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| Polydamus Swallowtail |
Latin
Name: Battus polydamus |
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Genus: Battus Species: polydamus |
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Comments: |
| The Polydamus Swallowtail lacks the characteristic hindwing tails common to most other-North American members of the family. This trait, combined with its broad, yellow wing bands, makes the species easy to identify. It is a fast and powerful flier with a preference for open areas. Primarily a tropical butterfly, it is rarely found north of the Florida border. It is a common butterfly of suburban and urban gardens. Adults are good colonizers and readily disperse long distances in search of suitable hosts. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
amber-brown, laid in small clusters on new growth of the host |
Larva: |
robust, chocolate-brown with numerous short orange, fleshy tubercles |
Host Plants: |
various native and ornamental pipevine species |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
various native and ornamental pipevine species |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
fields, gardens, woodland edges, suburban parks, disturbed sites |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
4 - 5 |
Centimeters: |
10.2 - 12.7 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
similar |
Compare: |
Black Swallowtail is smaller with yellow spot bands above and hindwing tails. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- black with a prominent yellow band along the outer margin of wings; lacks tails
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Below:
- hindwings have marginal row of narrow red spots; thorax and abdomen black with red spots
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Abundance: |
occasional to locally common |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
