Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor
Sometimes called Blue Swallowtail or the Philenor, specific epithet philenor (Greek φιληνωρ) literally means "fond of a man/men" or "loving one's husband". Linnaeus doesn't explain what this has to do with butterflies.
There are two subspecies in the U.S.
Wingspan 70-130 mm. Iridescent blue/black pattern on upper surface is distinctive when fresh. Can be confused with other members of its mimicry complex. The Pipevine flutters its wings incessantly while nectaring,; some speculate this is part of its mechanisms for advertising distastefulness. Some others in its complex, notably the Black Swallowtail, seem to do this too.
Male has very iridescent upper surfaces of hindwings. Female has less striking iridescence. Underside has a single median row of orange spots which do not touch each other.
Found from the southern United States, to southern Mexico. In eastern US, old fields, etc. near woodlands with hostplant. Mid-summer in eastern United States. Does not fly as late into fall as other swallowtails. Caterpillars present from June into fall in temperate areas.
Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include "Pipevine" or "Dutchman's Pipe", Aristolochia species (tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds (including Aristolochic acid) from their hostplant. Both larvae and adults are believed toxic to vertebrate predators, and both have aposematic (warning) coloration.
Adults nectar on a variety of flowers, including asteraceae. Males take fluids from damp sand.
Two or three flights per year in North Carolina. Flies all year in tropical Mexico. Overwinters as chrysalis in temperate areas.
The beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, is the model of a Batesian mimicry complex. The members of this complex present a confusing array of blue-and-black butterflies in the summer months in the eastern United States.
Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor
Sometimes called Blue Swallowtail or the Philenor, specific epithet philenor (Greek φιληνωρ) literally means "fond of a man/men" or "loving one's husband". Linnaeus doesn't explain what this has to do with butterflies.
There are two subspecies in the U.S.
Wingspan 70-130 mm. Iridescent blue/black pattern on upper surface is distinctive when fresh. Can be confused with other members of its mimicry complex. The Pipevine flutters its wings incessantly while nectaring,; some speculate this is part of its mechanisms for advertising distastefulness. Some others in its complex, notably the Black Swallowtail, seem to do this too.
Male has very iridescent upper surfaces of hindwings. Female has less striking iridescence. Underside has a single median row of orange spots which do not touch each other.
Found from the southern United States, to southern Mexico. In eastern US, old fields, etc. near woodlands with hostplant. Mid-summer in eastern United States. Does not fly as late into fall as other swallowtails. Caterpillars present from June into fall in temperate areas.
Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include "Pipevine" or "Dutchman's Pipe", Aristolochia species (tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds (including Aristolochic acid) from their hostplant. Both larvae and adults are believed toxic to vertebrate predators, and both have aposematic (warning) coloration.
Adults nectar on a variety of flowers, including asteraceae. Males take fluids from damp sand.
Two or three flights per year in North Carolina. Flies all year in tropical Mexico. Overwinters as chrysalis in temperate areas.
The beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, is the model of a Batesian mimicry complex. The members of this complex present a confusing array of blue-and-black butterflies in the summer months in the eastern United States.