Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

Widespread but more common in the mountains in NC, this species is often hard to come by in the coastal plain. Pipevine Swallowtails fly from spring into fall and often hover at flowers while nectaring.

Distinguished from other dark swallowtails by:
-- mostly dark forewing
-- single row of orange spots on underhindwing
-- lack of orange spot on dorsal hindwing

Graham Co., NC
1 May 2004

Mated Pair, photographed with natural light (same picture with flash is at the bottom of the page)

Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006

Pipevines can look bluish or greenish above, depending upon wear and light conditions.

Like many butterflies, Pipevine Swallowtails often "puddle", i.e. imbibe nutrients from mud or wet sand.

	Puddle Party Buncombe Co., NC 26 June 2004

	Puddle Party -- note two Harvesters getting in on the action! Buncombe Co., NC 26 June 2004
	Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) is a common hostplant for the Pipevine Swallowtail, and the leaves pictured here were chewed up by Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars! Buncombe Co., NC 8 July 2006
	Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars are very distinctive Buncombe Co., NC 8 July 2006
	Pipevine caterpillars incorporate toxins from the host plant into their own tissues, making them toxic to predators. Buncombe Co., NC 8 July 2006

	Buncombe Co., NC 8 July 2006 same pair as the second photo on this page, but with flash.

	Several Pipevine Swallowtail chrysalids (pupa) were on the wall of a nearby building. Watauga Co., NC 22 July 2006
	Watauga Co., NC 22 July 2006

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... May 3, 2003 | Updated ... Aug 8, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu