Battus philenor

Pipevine swallowtail

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Battus
Species:
B. philenor
Binomial name
Battus philenor
(Linnaeus, 1771)
Subspecies

See text

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] Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus Aristolochia. They are known for sequestering acids from the plants they feed on in order to defend themselves from predators by being poisonous when consumed. The adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers. Some species of Aristolochia are toxic to the larvae, typically tropical varieties.[6] While enthusiasts have led citizen efforts to conserve pipevine swallowtails in their neighborhoods on the West coast, the butterfly has not been the subject of a formal program in conservation or protected in legislation.[7][8] The butterfly is however of "Special Concern" in Michigan, which is on the Northern limit of its range.[9]

  1. ^ Bains, T.; Walker, A.; Hall, P. (2021). "Battus philenor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T110520147A110520288. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T110520147A110520288.en. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Battus philenor - Pipevine Swallowtail". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Battus philenor​". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Savela, Markku. "Battus philenor". funet.fi. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  5. ^ Iftner, David C.; Shuey, John A.; Calhoun, John V. (1992). Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio University. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-86727-107-2.
  6. ^ "Is Your Pipevine Plant Swallowtail-safe?". Monarch Butterfly Garden. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  7. ^ Zachary Crockett (14 February 2017). "How one man repopulated a rare butterfly species in his backyard". Vox.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ^ Jane Fletcher (19 May 1999). "A Haven for Butterflies / Create a habitat that will lure these beauties to your back yard". SFGate. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  9. ^ I. Ramos (2001). "Battus phileno". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 20 April 2019.