Battus philenor
Pipevine Swallowtail
Blue Swallowtail
Florida native
Pipevine swallowtails are found from central Florida northward to Ontario and Connecticut, westward to Arizona, plus an area of northern California and Mexico.
A mostly black butterfly, the males have a blue to blue-green iridescence on the upper side of the hind wings. Both sexes have faint light submarginal spots on both sets of wings. Both sexes have a blue iridescence and a row of seven orange spots on the underside of each hindwing.
Eggs are reddish-orange and the full-grown larvae are dark brown to nearly black with rows of orange or sometimes red tubercles. Pupae may be green or brown and widened with lateral flanges.
The larval host plants are members of the genus Aristolochia, known as pipevines, such as Dutchman's pipe.
Battus philenor is a member of the Papilionidae - Swallowtails family.
Other species of the Battus genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Battus polydamas var. lucayus - GOLD RIM SWALLOWTAIL
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
University of Florida Entomology Dept. Featured Creatures page for this species
Date record last modified: Oct 12, 2020