Pipevine Swallowtail (NPS Manassas National Battlefield Park Butterflies and Moths)

Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

Summary ⁷

The Pipevine Swallowtail or Blue Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. The butterflies are black with iridescent blue hind wings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. The black or red caterpillars feed on Aristolochia species, making them poisonous as both larvae and adults, while the adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers.

Distribution ⁸

Battus philenor is found in the southern half of the United States (occasionally further north), and ranges south to southern Mexico (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

Morphology ⁹

Wing span: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7-13 cm)

The eggs of a pipevine swallowtail are red-orange and circular. As larvae (caterpillars), pipevine swallowtails are black, with red projections and spots running down their backs. The color of the larvae and pupae of this species is affected by temperature, animals experiencing warmer temperatures shade from black to red. The chrysalis of this has its own shape distinct from other butterflies. The posterior end is segmented and has an inward curve; the ventral thorax of the chrysalis is raised, and the head has a pair of horns at the anterior dorsal portion.

The fore-wing of adults is coal-black above and gray below. The dorsal hind-wing is where the males and females are noticeably different. Males have smaller cream or pale spots than females, and the spots run along the fringe of the wings. Males are also a brighter metallic blue than their female counterparts, in the dorsal hind wing region. The bottom half of the ventral hind wing of males and females is metallic blue; a single row of seven orange spots and small pale, cream dots are found at the edge of the wing within the metallic blue section.

Range wingspan: 7 to 13 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently

Habitat ¹⁰

B. philenor is found mostly in warm climates through out North America. The species favors open woodlands, meadows, and anywhere else an abundance of pipevine grow, including backyard gardens and nurseries. (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991).

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains

Behaviour ¹¹

Adults sip nectar and mud. Males patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

Reproduction ¹²

Pipevine swallowtail males spend most of their time looking to breed with females. Once a male has located a female, he will quickly land and attemp to mate. Females lay clusters of eggs on or under leaves of pipevines and mostly exposed in the sun. Larva (caterpillars) hatch from the eggs and begin feeding on the host plant. Once they have eaten enough, and matured enough, the larva will metamorphose into a pupa, or chrysalis. It spends the winter as a chrysalis (or in warm regions, just a few weeks), and emerges as an adult in the spring. (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991)

Conservation status ¹³

Pipevine swallowtails are, for now, secure globally. In Michigan, where they reach the northern limit of their range, they are listed as a species of special concern.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: special concern

Sources and Credits

(c) Ronnie Pitman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/78366623@N00/3269144261
(c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GthRiN8ujwE/UBU-5fP00mI/AAAAAAAAMsI/g5xRna0puDc/s1024/P1110869.JPG
(c) Patrick Coin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1430/1064395946_e45a7a25c1_o.jpg
(c) BlueRidgeKitties, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4836622454_491fd42882.jpg
(c) David Bygott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5656622666_e77e26e2d4.jpg
(c) David Bygott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5656622612_3d380e3698.jpg
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battus_philenor
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380355
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380357
(c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380356
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/17749809
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380358
Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31380360

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