The Pipevine Swallowtail is black with a single row of pale spots near the wing edges. This beautiful butterfly is sometimes called the “Blue Swallowtail”. When the wings are open, the dorsal surface of the hindwings displays an iridescent blue or blue-green hue, which is more prominent in males than in females. There is also a row of white spots parallel to the border of the tailed hindwings. When the wings are closed, the ventral side of the hindwings shows a submarginal row of seven circular orange spots in an iridescent blue field highlighted with white.

 

“Pipevine Swallowtail” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Pipevine Swallowtail Facts

Butterfly Family: Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Papilioninae

Butterfly Wingspan: 2 3/4 – 5 inches

Butterfly Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats, open woodland, and woodland edges

 

Pipevine Swallowtail Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Pipevines

Nectar Plants:

• Thistles
• Milkweeds
• Bee Balm
• Joe-Pye Weed
• Phlox
• Blazing Star
• Zinnia
• Lantana
• Verbena
• Azalea
• Purple Coneflower
• Petunias
• Ironweed