Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is the northernmost representative of a primarily neotropical genus of swallowtails. Due to the larval food preferences, adults of this distinctively-marked butterfly taste bad, and are generally avoided by predators. This species is the model for a Batesian mimicry complex of several species of nontoxic butterflies that resemble it, including the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus), female Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), the black morph female of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and the Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax). They receive a degree of protection from predators as a result of their resemblance (Brock & Kaufman, 2003).
This species has several broods, from late April to early May, late June and July, and early September (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith). Pipevine Swallowtail is more common in the far western counties where the host plants are more prevalent. Very rare on the Eastern Shore.
Host plants include Pipevine (Isotrema macrophyllum) and Virginia Snakeroot (Endodeca serpentaria).
There are 317 records in the project database.
GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |