Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
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The Pipevine Swallowtail gets its name from the larval food, which consists of pipevines in the genus Aristolochia. Because of the toxins contained in this diet, pipevine swallowtails are distasteful to most predators. In our area, there are other swallowtails that mimic the pipevine (the black, female tiger, and spicebush swallowtails), and therefore get a bit of protection. From the battered look of this specimen, though, it is probable that birds discover 3 out of 4 black butterflies are quite palatable. Normally, the pipevine swallowtail has tails on its hindwings, but these are practically torn off in the pictured individual. Even with the ragged wings, the lovely iridescent blue on the hindwings is still evident.
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The caterpillars are some of the most bizarre looking of any swallowtail species. They come in two color forms: red (above) and black (below). Because of their toxins, the caterpillars can frequently be seen eating during the day, completely exposed.
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class: Insecta / order: Lepidoptera / family: Papilionidae / genus: Battus / species: philenor
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