Pipevine Swallowtail (University of Arizona Pollinator Field Guide)

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

Who am I? ³

Why hello! I am Battus philenor. Or more commonly, I am the Pipevine swallowtail or Blue swallowtail. What a pleasure it is to meet you. We have self-defense mechanisms similar to the Monarch (Danaus plexipus) and the Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Our preferred host plants give us aristolochic acids, which makes our taste unpalatable to birds... and sometimes even parasitoids! Very convenient, if I must say. We also have organs (they tend to be yellow-ish) called osmeteria that come out from behind our children's heads when they feel threatened. Some say the kids look like velvet worms. Anyway, osmeteria secrete isobutyric and 2-methyl butyric acid, both of which are rather stinky according to a fellow ant. There are also butterflies that pretend to be us (otherwise known as Batesian mimics), some of whom are the Spicebrush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), and the Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax).

Quick facts ³

Common name: Pipevine swallowtail

Scientific name:Battus philenor (Linnaeus 1771)

Family: Papilionidae - Papilioninae

Characteristics:

Wingspan: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7 - 13 cm)
Upperside: mostly black, with blue iridescence on hindwings
Males tend to have a brighter blue iridescence than females
Underside: blue iridescence on hindwings, seven medium-sized orange spots along edge, white spots rimming both fore- and hindwings
Larva have defensive "horns" (osmeteria) that emerge from behind the head when threatened

Host plant: Prefers Aristolochia species (Pipevines), including A. tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica, and serpentaria. See full list on Discover Life: https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Battus+philenor&guide=Caterpillars#Hosts

Nectar plant: Variety of flowers, some are thistles (Cirsium species), lilac, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow star thistle, and California buckeye

Distribution: Most of eastern and southern United States. Sometimes strays to Canada, and can travel to southern Mexico

Flight times: Most abundant during late spring in California and eastern United States. Is often abundant in the summer and fall in the southern United States. See seasonality: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59188-Erynnis-funeralis

Read more about them here: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/pipevine_swallowtail.htm

Where can you find me on campus? ³

Pipevine swallowtails may be found on varying flowers around campus. Previous sightings have been on flowers near the Old Main fountain and by the Chemistry building. There are several lantana flowers planted around campus, some are located north of Campus Health and near the entrance of the Mathematics building. Of course, its likely they may visit other flowers as well but more observations would be needed for predictions.