Polydamas Swallowtail
Common NamePolydamas Swallowtail
Scientific NameBattus polydamas
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Wingspan (mm)105
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, yellow
HabitatOpen woodlands, forest edges, gardens, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas), Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and much of South America
Host PlantsAristolochia littoralis, Aristolochia serpentaria, Aristolochia macrophylla
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; spring to fall in temperate zones
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are dark with fleshy tubercles and feed on pipevines, sequestering toxins. Pupae are cryptic, resembling a dead leaf or twig.
Identification TipsKey features include its tailless wings and the prominent, continuous band of yellow spots on the dorsal side of both forewings and hindwings. The underside of the hindwings typically has a row of red or orange spots.
Description
A large, tailless black swallowtail butterfly with a distinctive band of bright yellow spots across both its forewings and hindwings. The underside of the hindwings often features a row of red or orange spots.
