Rest of Sunday

This Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) was in our yard this afternoon. We figured it must be butterfly season with all of the different species that are showing up in our yard (there was another 
one that was too quick darting over different parts of the yard, and away before I could get my camera - maybe a Tawney Emperor). When driving, it is common now to see Eastern Tiger Swallowtails everywhere - noticeable in that I can even see them crossing streets and the freeway. There were four hanging around for a while on our butterfly bush - glad we planted it this past year.

Family: Parnassians and Swallowtails (Papilionidae)

Subfamily: Swallowtails (Papilioninae)

Identification: Upper surface of hind wing iridescent blue or blue-green. Underside of hind wing with submarginal row of 7 round orange spots in iridescent blue field.

Life history: Adult males patrol likely habitat in search of receptive females. Females lay batches of eggs on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed in small groups when young but become solitary when older. Wintering is by the chrysalis.

Flight: In the East and California, adults fly primarily in late spring and summer, but the butterfly is commoner in late summer and fall in the South and Southwest. Where lack of freezing temperatures permit, adults may fly continuously. In lowland tropical Mexico they may be found in any month. 

Wingspan: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7 - 13 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species), including Aristolochia californica, A. serpentaria and others.

Adult food: Solely nectar from flowers including thistles (Cirsium species), bergamot, lilac, viper's bugloss, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, dame's-rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow star thistle, California buckeye, yerba santa, brodiaeas, and gilias.

Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats, open woodland, and woodland edges.

Range: Rare stray to Canada (s. Manitoba). Tropical lowlands south to southern Mexico.

Conservation: Normally not of high conservation concern, although states at northern limits have listed under state law. These listings are of dubious value where species is not a permanent resident.
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Exerted from: Butterflies and Moths of North America. Access by clicking here.