Indra Swallowtail
Papilio indra Reakirt, 1866
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Abdomen is all black, or black with a yellow dash on the side of the rear. Wings are mostly black with pale yellow markings. Tails are very short on most subspecies.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.2 - 7.2 cm).
Life History: Males watch from rocky areas below tops of hills or mesas for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves or on flowers. Caterpillars feed on the edges of leaves and hide at the base of plants. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight, with occasional late-flying individuals of desert populations, March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Aromatic herbs of the parsley family (Apiaceae) growing among rocks.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountains, desert mountains, and canyons.
Range: Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico north to South Dakota, west to Washington.
Conservation: Several subspecies occur entirely or primarily on Federal lands. These include kaibabensis (Grand Canyon National Park), minori (Colorado National Monument and B.L.M.), panamintensis (Death Valley National Monument), and martini (Mojave Desert National Preserve).
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent removal of caterpillar host plants from public lands. Limit collection by permits.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 490 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Morgan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: Jun 03, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 02, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Fred Heath)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 20, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 02, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 29, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert Warner)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 06, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Mar 21, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 01, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Horner)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 14, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 02, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 19, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 02, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Levine)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 09, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Johnson)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 02, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Darin Andrade)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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