Old World Swallowtail
Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of hindwing near tail has reddish-orange eyespot with black along lower border touching inner edge of hindwing or at least not a centered eyespot.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.5 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on the host plant, and newly-hatched caterpillars eat the leaves. Older caterpillars feeding on plants of the parsley family prefer to eat the flowers. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: In north, one flight in late May-July; two flights in south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sagebrushes (Artemisia species), including Arctic wormwood and wild tarragon, rarely plants in the parsley family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open hilltops, mountain meadows, tundra.
Range: Holarctic. In North America, south from Alaska to northern British Colombia, east across Canada to western Quebec. Southern British Colombia south through New Mexico. Comments: Includes , P. oregonius and P. bairdii.
Conservation: Not noted as of concern, but is rare or uncommon.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 401 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: Tom Middagh
Region: Johnson County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 17, 2018
Observation date: Jul 27, 2017
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Montezuma County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: May 22, 2017
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: Sue Allie
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Sep 02, 2017
Submitted by: gasigr
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2014
Submitted by: ccrosby98
Region: Douglas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2017
Observation date: Jul 29, 2017
Submitted by: teachsci
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 14, 2017
Observation date: Jul 22, 2017
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: meckhardt
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 02, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
Observation date: May 28, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: Jul 08, 2016
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2016
Observation date: Jun 22, 2016
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 01, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Aug 02, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Aug 16, 2015
Observation date: Jul 06, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 15, 2015
Observation date: Jun 28, 2015
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Jul 05, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Jun 27, 2015
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Northwest Territories, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2015
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