Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

Distinguished from other dark swallowtails by:
-- mostly dark forewing
-- single row of orange spots on underhindwing
-- lack of orange spot on dorsal hindwing

mated pair

Pipevines can look bluish or greenish above, depending upon wear and light conditions.

Mated Pair, photographed with natural light (same picture with flash is at the bottom of the page)

Like many butterflies, Pipevine Swallowtails often "puddle", i.e. imbibe nutrients from mud or wet sand.

Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) is a common hostplant for the Pipevine Swallowtail, and the leaves pictured here were chewed up by Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars!

Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars are very distinctive

Pipevine caterpillars incorporate toxins from the host plant into their own tissues, making them toxic to predators.

Several Pipevine Swallowtail chrysalids (pupa) were on the wall of a nearby building.