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Pipevine Swallowtail (male)

1 Species ID Suggestions

Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor Pipevine swallowtail


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10 Comments

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

Ok Kristen and Florida lady I bow to your advanced knowledge I need your skills - thanks for the information. Ancient as I am I still gather!

KristenGilpin
KristenGilpin 12 years ago

Here are some more good photos at BAMONA:

Spicebush: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...

Pipevine: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...

KristenGilpin
KristenGilpin 12 years ago

Hi Mick, I rear both species for work in Tampa Florida where I am the curator of a butterfly garden attached to a science museum. Both species are Florida natives that I have worked closely with for over 10 years.

Here is a link to some photos I took last year of a Spicebush Swallowtail: http://lepcurious.blogspot.com/2010/10/s...

florida33girl
florida33girl 12 years ago

MickGrant - Take a look at the pictures at this link of a Spicebush Swallowtail.
http://www.carolinanature.com/butterflie...
You'll see the spots Kristen is referring to. This can be a tricky call to make, but Kristen and I raise both of these butterflies at the BioWorks Butterfly Garden in Tampa, FL. We spend a lot of time around both species and know them well.

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

Not in the books I have - your source?

KristenGilpin
KristenGilpin 12 years ago

Additionally, Spicebush Swallowtails have a deep orange to reddish spot on the hind wings near the tails.

KristenGilpin
KristenGilpin 12 years ago

I'm going to agree with Jill here. The lower wings have a double row of white spots and a deep blue iridescent coloring. This is a male Pipevine Swallowtail. Females have the same rows of spotting but have a less iridescent wing that appears nearly black in color.

MickGrant
MickGrant 12 years ago

Yes Spice-bush (Green - clouded) Pterourus troilus - due to blue green lunules around wing outer curve. More shots please on next one.

loonlake28
loonlake28 12 years ago

Okay, thank you!

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

This is not Pipevine Swallowtail, but I think it is Spicebush Swallowtail. You have to look at the picture carefully, but there is blue-green in the lower wings.

loonlake28
Spotted by
loonlake28

Biltmore Forest, North Carolina, USA

Spotted on Jul 19, 2010
Submitted on Aug 11, 2011

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