Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
- Iftner, David C.; Shuey, John A.; Calhoun, John V. (1992). Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. OH:: College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio State University. p. 66. ISBN 0-86727-107-8.
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North American Ecology (US and Canada)
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Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press.
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Distribution
Geographic Range
Battus philenor is found in the southern half of the United States (occasionally further north), and ranges south to southern Mexico (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Southern Ontario and southern New England south to central Florida and west to Arizona, California and Oregon. Also extends south to Costa Rica. This species is not resident in some parts of this range. It is somewhat migratory and can appear suddenly in numbers in large areas of unsuitable habitat (no native foodplants) such as in southern New Jersey. It also probably cannot consistently survive the winters in some areas. B. p. hirsuta in California only.
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Wing span: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7-13 cm)
The eggs of a pipevine swallowtail are red-orange and circular. As larvae (caterpillars), pipevine swallowtails are black, with red projections and spots running down their backs. The color of the larvae and pupae of this species is affected by temperature, animals experiencing warmer temperatures shade from black to red. The chrysalis of this has its own shape distinct from other butterflies. The posterior end is segmented and has an inward curve; the ventral thorax of the chrysalis is raised, and the head has a pair of horns at the anterior dorsal portion.
The fore-wing of adults is coal-black above and gray below. The dorsal hind-wing is where the males and females are noticeably different. Males have smaller cream or pale spots than females, and the spots run along the fringe of the wings. Males are also a brighter metallic blue than their female counterparts, in the dorsal hind wing region. The bottom half of the ventral hind wing of males and females is metallic blue; a single row of seven orange spots and small pale, cream dots are found at the edge of the wing within the metallic blue section.
Range wingspan: 7 to 13 cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently
- Comstock, J. 1927. Butterflies of California: a popular guide to a knowledge of the butterflies of California, embracing all of the 477 species and varieties at present recorded for the state. Los Angeles, California: J.A. Comstock.
- Pyle, R. 1981. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..
- Opler, P., R. Stanford, H. Pavulaan. 1995. "Butterflies of North America" (On-line). Accessed October 25, 2000 at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat
B. philenor is found mostly in warm climates through out North America. The species favors open woodlands, meadows, and anywhere else an abundance of pipevine grow, including backyard gardens and nurseries. (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991).
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains
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Comments: Most frequently open woodlands; also, meadows, fields, gar- dens, orchards. Potential for breeding virtually anywhere foodplants grow, native or planted. Larvae feed on pipe vines (Aristolochia).
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Migration
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
As larvae, pipevine swallowtails feed only on plants in the genus Aristolochia (known as pipevines). As a butterfly, B. philenor feeds soley on nectar from flowers, including thistles (Cirsium), bergamot, lilac, viper's bugloss, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, dame's rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow start thistle, California buckeye, yerba santa, brodiaceas, and gilias (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991).
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Associations
Flowering Plants Visited by Battus philenor in Illinois
(most observations are from Robertson, otherwise they are from Clinebell, Macior, and Conger as indicated below; this butterfly is the Pipevine Swallowtail)
Apiaceae: Eryngium yuccifolium sn (Rb), Heracleum maximum sn (Rb); Asclepiadaceae: Asclepias incarnata [plpr sn] (Rb), Asclepias purpurascens [plab sn] (Rb), Asclepias syriaca [plab sn] (Rb), Asclepias tuberosa [plpr sn] (Rb); Asteraceae: Bidens aristosa sn (Rb), Cirsium hillii sn (Rb), Echinacea purpurea sn (Cl), Eupatoriadelphus purpureus sn (Rb), Helianthus grosseserratus sn (Rb), Liatris cylindracea sn (Cl), Silphium perfoliatum sn (Rb); Campanulaceae: Lobelia cardinalis sn (Rb), Lobelia siphilitica sn (Rb); Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea pandurata sn (Rb); Cornaceae: Cornus obliqua sn (Rb); Fabaceae: Orbexilum onobrychis (Rb), Trifolium pratense sn (Rb); Lamiaceae: Monarda bradburiana sn (Rb), Monarda fistulosa sn fq (Rb), Pycnanthemum tenuifolium sn (Rb), Teucrium canadense sn (Rb, Cng); Onagraceae: Oenothera pilosella sn (Rb); Polemoniaceae: Phlox divaricata laphamii sn (Rb), Phlox glaberrima sn (Rb); Rosaceae: Crataegus crus-galli sn (Rb), Porteranthus stipulatus sn (Rb); Ranunculaceae: Delphinium tricorne sn fq np (Mc); Rubiaceae: Cephalanthus occidentalis sn (Rb); Scrophulariaceae: Mimulus ringens sn np (Cng), Penstemon hirsutus sn np (Rb); Verbenaceae: Verbena stricta sn (Rb)
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2010. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version (09/2010).
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations H
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Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300
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Life History and Behavior
Behavior
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Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press.
http://www.fishbase.org
© Leslie Ries
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Pipevine swallowtail males spend most of their time looking to breed with females. Once a male has located a female, he will quickly land and attemp to mate. Females lay clusters of eggs on or under leaves of pipevines and mostly exposed in the sun. Larva (caterpillars) hatch from the eggs and begin feeding on the host plant. Once they have eaten enough, and matured enough, the larva will metamorphose into a pupa, or chrysalis. It spends the winter as a chrysalis (or in warm regions, just a few weeks), and emerges as an adult in the spring. (Opler et al. 1995; Pyle 1981; Scott 1986; Comstock 1927; Lucien 1972; Allen 1991)
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Battus philenor
There are 5 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Battus philenor
Public Records: 2
Species: 25
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
Conservation Status
Pipevine swallowtails are, for now, secure globally. In Michigan, where they reach the northern limit of their range, they are listed as a species of special concern.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: special concern
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
Other Considerations: Culture of host plants has extended range slightly in the Northeast. Cultivated pipevines may be oviposited on by migrant females but by themselves do not seem to often support sustained populations probably because such plants are too sparse on the landscape.
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Threats
Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation
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Management
Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
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Wikipedia
Battus philenor
The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)[1][2] is a swallowtail butterfly found in North and West and Central America. The butterflies are black with iridescent blue hind wings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests.[3] The black or red caterpillars feed on Aristolochia species, making them poisonous as both larvae and adults, while the adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers.
Contents |
Description
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The upper surface of the hind wings are an iridescent blue or blue-green with pale, arrow-head markings. Males have brighter metallic regions than females.[4] The underside of the hind wing has seven orange submarginal spots surrounded by iridescent blue.[5] Both surfaces of the fore wings are black or dull blackish-brown.[4][6] Individuals are smaller and hairier in northern California.[7]
Similar species
The Pipevine Swallowtail is mimicked by many species, including the dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), the Spicebush Swallowtail (P. troilus), the Black Swallowtail (P. polyxenes), the Ozark Swallowtail (P. joanae), the sympatric subspecies Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), and the female Diana Fritillary (Speyeria diana).[7]
Distribution and habitat
The butterfly ranges from across USA to Mexico, Islas Marías and onto Guatemala and Costa Rica.[2][6] It rarely strays into southern Ontario.[5] In the United States, the butterfly is found in New England down to Florida west to Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon.[2] Habitats for B. philenor vary greatly, including deciduous woodlands, forests, tropical forests, deserts, open fields, meadows, gardens, and orchards.[8][3]
Flight period
The Pipevine Swallowtail is seen from April to October in the northern portion of its range and from February to November in the southern portion. There are two broods in the north and three or more in the south.[8]
Life cycle
Males patrol for females in suitable habitats. Females will lay clusters of one to twenty reddish-brown eggs on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars are gregarious, while older larvae are solitary.[9][5] The caterpillars will eat the leaves, stems, and seed capsules of the host plant.[9] The larvae are either black or smoky red. Many fleshy filaments project from the sides of the body, the longest being on the anterior end. Over the dorsal part of the body are two rows of orange-red warts.[10] The chrysalis is brown or green, with two horns on the head, a point on the thorax, and a ridge on each side of the abdomen. The abdomen is often patched with yellow.[9]The chrysalis hibernates in areas with cold winters.[8]
Host plants
Host plants for the caterpillars include the Pipevine (Aristolochia species), including A. californica, A. serpentaria and others. Pipevines confer a poisonous quality to the larvae and resulting adults, much as the Monarch butterfly obtains protection by feeding on milkweed, or heliconiines by feeding on passion flowers.
Nectar resources
Adults seek nectar from flowers, including thistles (Cirsium species), bergamot, lilac, viper's bugloss, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, dame's rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow star thistle, buckeye, and butterfly bush.
References
- ^ Beccaloni, G. W.; Scoble, M. J.; Robinson, G. S.; Pitkin, B. (2003). "Card for philenor in LepIndex". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/research/projects/lepindex/detail.dsml?TaxonNo=166321.0&UserID=&UserName=&&listPageURL=list%2edsml%3fsort%3dSCIENTIFIC%255fNAME%255fon%255fcard%26SCIENTIFIC%5fNAME%5fon%5fcardqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26SCIENTIFIC%5fNAME%5fon%5fcard%3dphilenor%26recLimit%3d30&searchPageURL=index%2edsml%3fSCIENTIFIC%5fNAME%5fon%5fcardqtype%3dstarts%2bwith%26sort%3dSCIENTIFIC%255fNAME%255fon%255fcard%26SCIENTIFIC%5fNAME%5fon%5fcard%3dphilenor%26recLimit%3d30. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
- ^ a b c Savela, Markku. "Battus philenor". funet.fi. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/papilioninae/battus/index.html#philenor. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
- ^ a b Iftner, David C.; Shuey, John A.; Calhoun, John V. (1992). Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. OH:: College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio State University. p. 66. ISBN 0-86727-107-8.
- ^ a b Ramos, I.. "Battus philenor". Animal Diversity Website. University of Michigan. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Battus_philenor.html. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ a b c Opler, Paul A.. "Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Big Sky Institute at Montana State University. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Battus-philenor. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ a b Carter, David (2000). Butterflies and Moths (2nd ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 55. ISBN 0-7513-2707-7.
- ^ a b Brock, Jim P.; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America. New York City, NY:: Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 26. ISBN 0-618-15312-8.
- ^ a b c Cech, Rick; Tudor, Guy (2005). Butterflies of the East Coast. Princeton, NJ:: Princeton University Press. p. 62. ISBN 0-691-09055-6.
- ^ a b c Scott, James A. (1986). The Butterflies of North America. Stanford, CA:: Stanford University Press. p. 185. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4.
- ^ Wagner, David L. (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton, NJ:: Princeton University Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-691-12144-3.
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