Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly



Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly

The butterfly you see here is a pipevine swallowtail.  It's scientific name is Battus Philenor.

I love watching these butterflies fly around the trees in my backyard.  I see their shadows on the grass when I walk around.  They are always hovering above somewhere.  It is truly delightful to observe!

I planted some zenas in my backyard for the butterflies to feed on.  They are barely large enough, but they grow fast.  They will be there in this summer for them to feed on.

The inside wings are a beautiful bright blue color.  The outside wings are black with orange spots.

I love how they just glide through the air.  I will see if I can get a video of this sooner or later.




Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar on host plant

The caterpillars are the funniest looking things.  Whenever I see the large ones, they are always in a hurry.  They crawl so fast!  They are a dark red brown color with some tiny orange spots along the sides, and one orange spot on the head sometimes.

The caterpillars feed on some pipevine in my backyard.  Their eggs are an orange color.