Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Lacks tails. Black above with submarginal yellow band.
Wing Span: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (9 - 12 cm).
Life History: Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines. Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids.
Flight: Two-3 flights from April-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species).
Adult Food: Nectar of lantana. Occasionally seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed flowers.
Habitat: Open woods, abandoned fields, disturbed areas.
Range: South Texas and peninsular Florida south to Argentina. Strays north to Kentucky and Missouri.
Conservation: None noted.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat for caterpillar host plant and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 311 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 16, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: LakeCountyFL
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: jvarol
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 01, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 02, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2018
Submitted by: Shellseakr
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2018
Submitted by: Shellseakr
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jun 21, 2018
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 21, 2018
Observation date: May 14, 2018
Submitted by: Carmen Leidel
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: Mar 29, 2018
Submitted by: MTW
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 29, 2018
Observation date: Oct 15, 2011
Submitted by: EatYourTv
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Dec 14, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 14, 2017
Observation date: Nov 13, 2017
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Mooney
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2017
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: Eklaur
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2017
Submitted by: Eklaur
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
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