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Newly-emerged adult male pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor (L.), with wings folded showing undersides of the wings and white spots on abdomen. Photograph by Donald W. Hall, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida. California specimens are smaller, with hairy bodies.
Caterpillar. The journey of the Pipevine Swallowtail begins with the caterpillar stage, where the larvae exhibit a striking black coloration adorned with rows of yellow dots or, alternatively, a vibrant red with sting- or spine-like growths.
Battus philenor, the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail, [3] [4] is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. [5]
The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a large and striking butterfly native to North America. It can be found in a variety of regions, including the eastern and southern states, as well as the western parts of the United States.
Caterpillars of the Pipevine Swallowtail are unmistakable. They boast a bright red-orange hue, with their bodies covered in soft, velvet-like hair. The presence of numerous black, spiny projections give them a unique, somewhat spine-chilling appearance.
Pipevine Swallowtails are widespread in Alabama. These distasteful butterflies are the center of a mimicry ring that includes at least six palatable species. Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars obtain toxic chemicals (aristocholic acids) from their host plants; they retain these as adult butterflies.
The pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae go through five stages known as instars. The caterpillars molt their old skin in each instar, and each instar is unique. Not only are the larvae bigger, but often the coloring and markings are different.
The black swallowtail comes into our gardens to lay eggs on carrots, dill, parsley and other members of the celery family. In contrast, the caterpillars of pipevines, sometimes referred to as blue swallowtails, eat only the leaves of birthworts and dutchman’s pipes (Aristolochia).
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 caterpillars are a fascinating and beautiful species to nurture in your garden. To provide the best care for these caterpillars, it is important to understand their lifecycle, their preferred host plants, and the steps to raising them into healthy and vibrant butterflies.