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Battus polydamas var. lucayus
Gold Rim Swallowtail
Tailless Swallowtail
Polydamas Swallowtail
Florida native
Gold rim swallowtails can be found throughout Florida. The range extends through South and Central America and the Caribbean.
A large blackish butterfly with no tail. The upper side of the wings have a greenish-yellow band. The underside of the hindwing is brown and scalloped with a yellow patch and brick-red spots.
Host plants include herbs and vines of the Birthwort family.
If disturbed, the caterpillars display a stinky osmeterium, which is shown partly extended in one of the photos here.
Battus polydamas is a member of the Papilionidae - Swallowtails family.
Other species of the Battus genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Battus philenor - PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
UF Entemology Dept. Featured Creatures page for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 07, 2017
