Battus philenor
"Pipevine Swallowtail"

[ My Photos ] [ Studying Butterflies ] [ Reference Links ] [ Downloads ] [ About ] [ Contact ]
Lepidoptera.Net
Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera) : Papilionoidea : Papilionidae :
Battus philenor

Battus philenor - Pipevine Swallowtail, Copyright 1999 - 2002, Dave Morgan
Cobb Co., GA, USA - May 29, 1999

Battus philenor - Pipevine Swallowtail, Copyright 1999 - 2002, Dave Morgan
Cobb Co., GA, USA - September 18, 1999

The larvae of the Pipevine Swallowtail take in chemicals from the host plant, which make them taste bad. These chemicals remain in the bodies of the adult butterflies, so predators soon learn to avoid eating large black butterflies. As a result, other species of swallowtails have developed similar black wing patterns, so they benefit from this bad reputation.

More on Battus philenor at USGS Northern Prarie Wildlife Research Center

More Battus philenor images at J. Adams' "Georgia Lepidoptera" site

More Battus philenor images at J. Flynn's "Georgia Butterflies" site

[back]


English Español Deutsch Français
Language
Modified: Thursday 26 July 2007 02:00:46     www.lepidoptera.net     ©2003 Dave Morgan