Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
This species is so toxic that several other butterfly species, like the Red-spotted Purple, have evolved to mimic its iridescent blue wing pattern for protection.
- Scientific name
- Battus philenor
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Papilionidae › Battus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, forest edges, meadows, and suburban gardens.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar from flowers like thistles and butterfly weed; larvae eat only Pipevine (Aristolochia) plants.
- Range
- North America, Central America
- Size
- Wingspan of 7 to 13 cm (2.75 to 5 inches).
- Lifespan
- 2-4 weeks as an adult; up to 1 year including diapause.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation and the removal of native pipevine host plants in residential areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to observe. Do not ingest any part of the butterfly or caterpillar as they contain toxic aristolochic acids. Wash hands after handling larvae to avoid minor skin irritation.
Battus philenor , the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail , is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus Aristolochia . They are known for sequestering acids from the plants they feed on in order to defend themselves from predators by being...
Photo: M. Whitson, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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