The Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar is a fascinating creature worth exploring. As the larval stage of the strikingly beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor), these caterpillars have a unique appearance and interesting life cycle that makes them a perfect topic for any nature enthusiast.
Feeding primarily on Pipevine plants (Aristolochia species), these caterpillars play an important role in maintaining the native plant populations across eastern North America 1. Dark reddish-purple with fleshy outer projections, Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars can be found munching on the leaves of their host plants, preparing for their eventual transformation into butterflies 2.
As they progress through several stages of growth, or instars, the Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars develop distinct features that help to deter potential predators. For instance, they acquire a toxic substance from the Pipevine plant that makes them unpalatable to birds and other predators 3.
Physical Characteristics
Coloration and Appearance
Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars exhibit vibrant colors throughout their growth stages. Initially, they are black with red-orange spikes and gradually transition to a dark reddish tone. As adults, Pipevine Swallowtails boast striking iridescent blue on their hindwings.
Stage | Color | Features |
---|---|---|
Early | Black, red-orange | Spikes |
Later | Dark reddish | |
Adult | Iridescent blue | Blue hindwing patch |
Caterpillar Stages and Growth
Caterpillars undergo various growth stages called instars. In their early stages, Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars mimic the appearance of red-spotted purple butterflies for protection.
- Mimics red-spotted purple as defense mechanism
- Appearance changes throughout growth stages
In their later instars, the caterpillars turn solid black with yellow or green markings and spikes. These color changes correspond to their host plants, like the pipevine, as they feed and grow.
- Black with yellow, green markings
- Color changes for camouflage on pipevine plants
Their final appearance as adult butterflies includes a bright blue swallowtail with a single row of light spots on the hindwing. Males showcase more vivid iridescence than females.
- Bright blue on hindwings
- Males more vivid than females
Habitat and Range
Geographical Distribution
The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a large and striking butterfly native to North America. It can be found in a variety of regions, including the eastern and southern states, as well as the western parts of the United States. In the east, it ranges from Florida up to Kansas, while in the west, it inhabits areas such as California and southwest regions1.
Host Plants
- Pipevine, or Aristolochia species
- Virginia Snakeroot
These butterflies exhibit a strong preference for their host plants, laying eggs and feeding exclusively on Pipevine (Aristolochia spp.) and Virginia Snakeroot2. These host plants not only provide nourishment for the caterpillars but also provide a form of defense, as the toxins from the plants are absorbed by the caterpillars, making them unpalatable to predators.
Host Plant | Caterpillar Attractiveness |
---|---|
Aristolochia spp. | High |
Virginia Snakeroot | Medium |
Importance
Pipevine Swallowtails play a significant role in the ecosystem by being essential pollinators for their host plants. They also provide aesthetic value due to their striking appearance, which can be a catalyst for attracting people to appreciate and care for nature. However, their dependence on specific host plants highlights the need for habitat conservation efforts to ensure the survival of both the butterfly and the plants it relies upon3.
Life Cycle
Eggs and Larvae Development
The life cycle of the Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (Battus philenor) begins with eggs laid by adult females. They typically lay these eggs on the leaves of spicebush or birthwort plants, which serve as their major food source during this stage. The eggs are:
- Small
- Round
- Reddish in color
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae or caterpillars start to grow and develop through several stages called instars. Some of their features are:
- Black and orange bands
- Fleshy projections on their head and body
They feed mainly on the leaves of their host plants providing them with the necessary nutrients.
Chrysalis to Emergence
After the larvae have completed their growth, they form a chrysalis, entering the pupal stage. During this time, they undergo a significant transformation, changing their body structure in preparation for their adult stage – the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly.
The adult butterflies have unique characteristics:
- Males: Bright iridescent blue hindwings
- Females: Darker hindwings with a row of cream-colored spots
When the transformation is complete, the adult butterflies emerge from the chrysalis, taking their first flight and beginning the next phase of their life cycle.
Stage | Food Source | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
Eggs | Spicebush, Birthwort (Aristolochia) | Small, round, reddish |
Larvae | Host plant leaves | Black and orange bands, tentacle-like projections |
Chrysalis | N/A | Pupa, transformation |
Adult Butterfly | Nectar from flowers | Iridescent blue hindwings (males), cream-colored spots (females) |
Behavior and Adaptations
Feeding Habits
The pipevine swallowtail caterpillar feeds primarily on pipevine plants (Aristolochia species) which gives them their name. These plants contain toxic chemicals which the caterpillars can store, making them unpalatable to predators.
Example of favorite plants:
- Pipevine (Aristolochia species)
Comparison of feeding habits with other caterpillars:
Caterpillar | Food Source |
---|---|
Pipevine Swallowtail | Pipevine (Aristolochia species) |
Monarch | Milkweed (Asclepias species) |
Zebra Swallowtail | Pawpaw (Asimina species) |
Defense Mechanisms
Pipevine swallowtails have a unique defense mechanism called mimicry. They closely resemble black swallowtails and zebra swallowtails, both non-toxic species.
Example of mimicry by pipevine swallowtails:
- Imitating zebra swallowtail coloration and patterns
- Imitating black swallowtail coloration and patterns
Aside from mimicry, pipevine swallowtail caterpillars also possess an osmeterium, a forked gland they can extend from behind their head when threatened. This gland emits a strong odor that can repel predators.
Comparison of defense mechanisms with other butterflies:
Butterfly | Defense Mechanism |
---|---|
Pipevine Swallowtail | Mimicry and osmeterium |
Black Swallowtail | Non-toxic appearance |
Monarch | Accumulation of toxins from milkweed and warning coloration |
Conservation and Gardening
Attracting Swallowtails to Your Garden
To attract swallowtail butterflies such as black swallowtails, spicebush swallowtails and pipevine swallowtails to your garden, plant their favorite native host plants. For example:
-
Aristolochia macrophylla: Suitable for pipevine swallowtails
-
Birch: Favored by some eastern tiger swallowtails
-
Tulip tree: Attractive to giant swallowtails
-
Citrus family: Preferred by Canadian and Ontario swallowtails
Remember, swallowtail caterpillars are gregarious and can share plants, so plant a variety of their preferred species.
Supporting Native Species
By planting native species like Aristolochia tomentosa and Aristolochia macrophylla, you can support native pipevines, which are essential for the survival of swallowtail caterpillars. Besides, some swallowtails, specifically the pipevine swallowtail, rely on aristolochic acids found in these plants for their defense mechanism.
Swallowtail caterpillars have several unique characteristics:
-
Tough skin: Protects them from predators such as green anoles
-
Distinctive appearance: Abdominal segments often have colorful markings
-
Distasteful liquid: A defense mechanism to avoid getting eaten
-
Metamorphosis: Transform from caterpillars to butterflies through a fascinating process
Caterpillars feeding on aristolochic acid-rich leaves can build up toxins in their bodies, making them distasteful to predators. A key aspect of butterfly gardening, then, is to provide young foliage rich in these compounds.
In summary, here are some pros and cons of planting native pipevines for caterpillar gardening:
Pros
-
Attracts a variety of swallowtails to your garden
-
Supports native plant and wildlife conservation efforts
-
Provides swallowtail caterpillars the essential host plants for their survival
Cons
- Some pipevines may be invasive if not native to your area
Please consider these factors to make informed decisions when trying conservation and gardening in your own backyard.
Other Interesting Facts
Role in Native Cultures
Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars have been admired by various cultures for their beautiful appearance and unique characteristics. Some Native American tribes believed these caterpillars held spiritual significance in their life cycles and transformation processes.
Scientific Research
The Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar and its relationship with its host plants, mainly the genus Aristolochia, is an area of great scientific interest.
Range and habitat:
- Found across much of the United States
- Thrives in various habitats, including backyards, meadows, and woodlands
Diet and plant associations:
- Primarily feeds on plants from the Aristolochia genus
- Known to also consume pawpaw trees and sassafras
Protection from predators:
- Sequesters toxins from its host plant
- Stores these toxins, making them unpalatable to predators
Scientists are studying the ways in which these caterpillars utilize the aristolochic acids present in their host plants to protect themselves from predators. This can also serve as a blueprint for developing safer pest control methods that target specific insect species.
Comparison table – Aristolochia vs. other host plants:
Plant | Toxins | Pipevine Swallowtail Preference |
---|---|---|
Aristolochia | Aristolochic acid | High |
Pawpaw | Annonaceous acetogenins | Moderate |
Sassafras | Safrole | Low |
This fascinating butterfly species offers a unique aspect to our understanding of insect-plant interactions, both from a cultural and a scientific standpoint.
Footnotes
Reader Emails
Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about these insects. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.
Letter 1 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
black caterpillar with red spikes
Location: Tucson, AZ
April 14, 2012 3:41 pm
Hello,
thank you for your great site. I have used it many times to identify bugs around my house. I do not want to waste your time but I have spent a lot of time trying to find my caterpillar on your site and attempted to google its features but was unsuccessful. This caterpillar? was found in our neighborhood. My daughter and I have made it a hobby to collect caterpillars and see what emerges. So far we have only found moths and have been ”hunting” for a butterfly in progress. Our newest addition lovingly called ”spike” by my daughter is yet to be identified. We are in Tucson Arizona and he was found on a weed. He doesn’t seem to have much of an appetite. We went out to get him more of the weed but he just seems to lick it and not eat it. Over night he climbed on a stick to the glass and spit green stuff on it. He is also very inactive and seems to move its ”horns” towards motion as if to try to intimitate. Needless to say this one is much different from the others we have harbored. Do you have any idea?
Thank you so much 🙂
Signature: Mother and daughter nature enthusiasts
Dear Mother and daughter nature enthusiasts,
You caterpillar is quite distinctive and we recognized it immediately as the caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail. The adult Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful iridescent blue in color and there are orange spots on the under surface of the wings. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include “Pipevine” or “Dutchman’s Pipe”, Aristolochia species (tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds (including Aristolochic acid) from their hostplant. Both larvae and adults are believed toxic to vertebrate predators, and both have aposematic (warning) coloration.” The plant in your photo does not appear to be in the correct family, so the caterpillar’s reluctance to eat could be because the wrong food is being offered. We would urge you to try to find a food plant from the Aristolochia family at a local nursery in order to provide the correct food, however, if the caterpillar has matured, it might be preparing to form a chrysalis, in which case it would stop eating prior to metamorphosis. Here is a photo of a native Pipevine from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Digital Library website.
Hello Daniel,
thank you for getting back to us so quickly. I wanted to let you know that we immediately went out to find the right food for the little guy only to be told that local buyers do not buy it and so local nurseries do not grow it. We were devastated. But watching the caterpillars behavior, it appeared as though he was going to form a chrysalis but he just kept falling off. It looked like he was doing exactly what he was supposed to but could not finish and in the end the poor thing appeared weak and disoriented on the dirt. We found out that he might eat parsley and immediately offered the food but he rejected it. Looks like this story will not have a good ending after all. We did find one nursery today who claim to grow the exact plant you describe and we will pick it up tomorrow. It probably will not make a difference for our little guy but we will plant the native pipevine in our yard and maybe we will get to see a happy ending after all. Out of all the caterpillars we have taken in ,this one will be the first to fail. Even though we are both sad for our little “spike”, we will focus on a Salt Marsh Moth (identified on your site) instead, which should emerge for us any day now. Thank you again so much for your help and keep up your great work.
Sincerely,
Mother and daughter nature enthusiasts
Dear Mother and daughter nature enthusiasts,
We are sorry to hear about your lack of success raising the Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar. There must have been a pipevine growing near the vicinity where the caterpillar was originally found, though it is possible it was weeded or removed by a person believing it to be unsightly or problematic is some way. Often native plants are not as showy in a yard or garden as some cultivated plants, though the cultivated plants do not benefit native wildlife. Including native plants in a garden scheme is an excellent way to encourage wildlife.
Letter 2 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Caterpillar found in Norther California
Tue, May 26, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Hello,
My son brought home this caterpillar from a close by river. We still have it in his bug catcher with some leaves and other foliage from there and it has since cocooned.
I am curious as to what this is.
Thank you!
Delia Campos
Sacramento, CA at the American River
Hi Delia,
This is the caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, a lovely blue-green butterfly with orange spots on the undersides of the wings.
Letter 3 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Another Red Pipevine Swallotail Caterpillar?
Dear What’s That Bug,
I found this in Austin, Texas at our Barton Springs trail. Is this for sure a Red Pipevine Swallotail? If so, what plants do they normally eat? I want to paint this wonderful creature and would very much like to include accurate plantlife in my picture. Thanks for your help!
Denise Garza
Hi Denise,
With caterpillars, the best way to determine food sources it to check the plant the caterpillar was found eating. Your Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar, Battus philenor, should enjoy eating upon its namesake Pipevine Family plants, such as Dutchman’s Pipe and Virginia Snakeroot. The plants have toxins in the leaves and the caterpillar absorbs those toxins which make them inedible to birds and other preying dangers. Here is a site with some nice images and information.
Letter 4 – Pipevine Swallowtail
butterfly
hi.
i just came across your site for the first time, and i’m enthralled. great job. i didn’t see anything like the butterfly in the attached photo, so i thought i’d send it along. it was taken in the pisgah national forest in north carolina in late summer. thanks, and keep up the good work.
-epk
Hi EPK,
Thank you so much for sending in your gorgeous photo of a Pipevine Swallowtail. It really is a beautiful butterfly.
Letter 5 – Pipevine Swallowtail
What is this blue and black butterfly?
Sun, Oct 26, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I live in Central FL (Orlando area) and saw a black and blue butterfly on one of my sunflowers. It had orange and white spots under his wings. I have looked on a TON of butterfly sites and cannot figure out what kind of butterfly it is. I’d love to know!
Kate
Orlando, FL
Hi Kate,
Your butterfly is a Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor. Peter Glassberg, in his book Butterflies through Binoculars The West, writes: “As butterfly gardeners plant more pipevines, the range of this species will probably expand.”
Letter 6 – Pipevine Swallowtail
Pipevine swallowtail…Female?
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
September 11, 2010 1:10 am
Hi there, love, love, love your site! Saw this little lady coming to our garden and thought it was one of the black swallowtails we had helped hatch out earlier, but now I’m thinking it is a pipevine swallowtail? I’m thinking it is a female, but what is your opinion? I’m still just not sure and the anticipation is killing me! We planted an aristalochia vine earlier this month and we are hoping it’s already been found as a host plant?
Thank you so much for your site and for doing all you do, it has helped me so much!
Signature: Kim
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the compliment. Because you provided us with photographs showing both the dorsal view and the undersides as well, we can be certain that your sighting is of a Pipevine Swallowtail. According to BugGuide: “Male has very iridescent upper surfaces of hindwings. Female has less striking iridescence.” Iridescence is caused by light, so the quality and direction of the light may affect how iridescent and individual may appear, however, all indications are that this is a female. Perhaps she was attracted to the Aristalochia that you planted and if you are lucky, you may soon be raising a brood of Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars.
Thank you so much for responding and posting my pictures! I’m really excited to have a new type of butterfly in my garden, thank you for helping me I.D. it!
Letter 7 – Pipevine Swallowtail
Brown Butterfly
Location: Dayton, Ohio
September 18, 2010 9:29 pm
Hi bugman, first, i want to say that you have a great website here! Anyways, today, September 18, I saw this butterfly on a rose bush in our backyard and I cant figure out what kind of butterfly it is.
Signature: Julia
Hi Julia,
This is an incredibly battered Pipevine Swallowtail. It appears as though it may have had an encounter with a predator that attacked the wings but failed to grab the body with the vital organs. This is interesting because much of what we have read indicates that the Pipevine Swallowtail is unpalatable to predators. You may read more about this lovely butterfly in our archives and on BugGuide.
Letter 8 – Pipevine Swallowtail
Subject: Dark Swallowtail, Gorgeous
Location: Coryell County, TX
October 18, 2015 11:08 am
Hello!
Here is a beautiful dark swallowtail. You’ve helped me with identifying a Black Swallowtail before, thank you!
I looked at your site and at Bug Guide, and I’m thinking that this beauty may be a Pipevine Swallowtail, but I’m far from certain.
It visited the Autumn Sage for the longest time, fluttering like mad almost the entire time.
Thank you so much for your help!
Signature: Ellen
Dear Ellen,
You are correct that this is a Pipevine Swallowtail, and it is not as iridescent as other individuals, which means either the light did not strike it directly, or more likely that it is a female. According to BugGuide: “Male has very iridescent upper surfaces of hindwings. Female has less striking iridescence. Underside has a single median row of orange spots which do not touch each other.” BugGuide also notes: “The Pipevine flutters its wings incessantly while nectaring–I suspect this is part of its mechanisms for advertising distastefulness. (This is original speculation by the author–PC.) Some others in its complex, notably the Black Swallowtail, seem to do this too.” That is very consistent with your observations.
Letter 9 – Pipevine Swallowtail
Subject: Pipevine Swallowtail?
Location: Coryell County, TX
November 1, 2016 1:46 pm
Hello, I’m seeing these beautiful butterflies again, almost exactly a year since I last noticed them. I think they are Pipevine Swallowtails. Some others have more blue iridescence when their wings are opened than this beauty; you had said that the ones that are more blue are likely males.
The plant is Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), and the red variety remains the most popular with the butterflies. I think a dried petal landed on the butterfly’s wings in some of the photos.
Signature: Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Your most recent images of a Pipevine Swallowtail are lovely, and we really continue to enjoy the detailed sighting descriptions you always provide.
Letter 10 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
unknown caterpillar
I found this while clearing out a place on our acreage in town. We live on the Texas Coast in the coastal plains, in Calhoun County. There were three of them on a Chinese Tallow branch that I trimmed. I couldn’t find any damaged leaves around them, so they may have just been on the move. I found them on my oleander plant this morning, just “chillin.” Other plants nearby where I found them – dewberry, lantana, Texas persimmon, poison ivy (I didn’t get into that, don’t worry!) Mustang grapevine, tickseed, thistle, wild chives. We have more but they are much farther away from the spot. Hope you can help – my son and I are very curious. I couldn’t find them on BugGuide or What’s That Bug. Thanks –
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Searching our archives at What’s That Bug?, as well as searching the archives of our favorite identification site BugGuide (and BugGuide is way more organized than we are), can be a daunting task if you don’t know exactly what you are searching for. Both of our sites have numerous images of your species, the Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, Battus philenor. Interestingly, none of the plants you mention are host plants for the caterpillar. According to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include ‘Pipevine’ or ‘Dutchman’s Pipe’, Aristolochia species ( tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica ), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds from their hostplant.” Your photo indicates this is probably the final instar for the caterpillar and it is getting ready to metamorphose into a chrysalis. If that is true, the caterpillars might be wandering away from the plant that they were eating in search of the perfect location for pupation.
Letter 11 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
bug id, catpartid, and cat photo
Dear Bugman,
WOWEEEEEEE! What an amazing site. It seems like many people like to hang on to their knowledge and it’s wonderful to see someone sharing it so generously. Thank you! I have several questions: 1) What is this bug that’s attached to the monarch butterfly? It is flying OK. SF Bay area
2) I see you have a couple of red pipevine swallowtail cat photos on your site; here’s a black one.
3) I’m creating a website about monarch butterflies and would like to ID some parts. I’ve searched the web high and low for photos of monarch cat spiracles and all I can find are line drawings. Same with mouthparts. Can you confirm these are correct? I’d hate to pass on misinformation!
Sincerely,
Hazel
Hi Hazel,
First, thanks for the sweet letter. We can’t see anything in the Monarch photo, but know that Pseudoscorpions sometimes hitch rides on flying insects. We love your Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar photo and are proud to have it. Regarding the labeling of the caterpillar image, you should probably check with a real expert. We are rank amateurs, but in our opinion, the labels look correct.
Letter 12 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
caterpiller
Hi. I am wondering if you can identify this caterpillar? for me. Its about an inch and a half long. It was found on a rose bush in the front yard. I live in Kerrville, Texas.
Thanks in advance
Daniel Burney
Hi Daniel,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, Battus philenor. Rose is not a host plant, so we can only guess a pipevine is growing nearby.
Letter 13 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Hello, hello…I am a little late sending this in. My eight-year-old found this in our desert ‘yard’ in Tucson, Arizona in October, so that’s an eight-year-old thumb if it helps you size it. I’ve been meaning to look it up for five months now. I await your entemological wisdom.
Amy Gray
Hi Amy,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, Caterpillar. The foodplant consists of both native and cultivated pipevine.
Letter 14 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
what’s this bug?
Hi,
Your website is great! I’ve been able to find everything I was trying to look up, except one bug, which I need some help with. I found these little guys while walking in a partially wooded area near Boone, NC. The first one we found was in the stick and leaf debris, and then we found a second one hanging onto a large rock. They were about 1.5 – 2 inches long. Any ideas?
thanks!
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, and its osmeterium, a Y-shaped retractile organ that emits a foul odor, is showing.
Letter 15 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Can you please identify this caterpillar (with picture)
Howdy,
I live in Suwannee County, FL and found this little critter out and about near the front porch this morning. My best guess is that it’s a Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar, however I am most often mistaken as opposed to correct with these assumptions. Would you mind helping me properly identify this caterpillar? As a note, when my dog tried to sniff at it, two spots on it’s head around the vicinity of it’s eyes bulged out big round bright orange spots about the size of two small drops of water. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the caterpillar to do it’s performance for the camera. Also, I tried looking up this caterpillar in your archives, but many of the pictures wouldn’t load.
Thanks for your time,
Joe
Hi Joe,
What an awesome photo of a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar. The orange horns that appeared are a defense mechanism known as the osmeterium that produce a scent found offensive by predators.
Letter 16 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Puzzled
Dear WTB, we live in northern California, in the foothills north of Sacramento (Penryn). On our walks to the local pond we have been finding a lot of these caterpillars along the trail. Can you help us learn what they are? Thank you,
Jack (6) and Macy (4).
Hi Jack and Macy,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar. They feed on both native and cultivated pipevine. If provoked, the caterpillar has an interesting defense mechanism. A forked orange scent gland called the osmetrium emerges, looking like a forked horn. The caterpillar then emits a foul odor.
Letter 17 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: What is this bug
Location: Rockport South Texas
August 13, 2012 5:29 pm
We found this bug next to the front door in Rockport, Texas. Can you tell us what it is?
Signature: I don’t care
Dear I don’t care,
This is the caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail. It is a very distinctive caterpillar and it is highly unlikely that it would be confused with any other caterpillar except possibly its close relative the Polydamus Swallowtail.
Letter 18 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: Pipevine Swallowtail?
Location: Slade, KY; Red River Gorge
August 20, 2012 8:37 am
Good morning! I found this little guy on a hike in Kentucky; Trying to ID him, my best guess is that he is a pipevine swallowtail caterpillar, but he doesn’t look quite the same as the pictures I am seeing of them. Would love some verification! He was about 1.5” long.
Signature: Katy
Hi Katy,
This is indeed the caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail.
Letter 19 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: ID for weird Wrath of Khan caterpiller
Location: Sonoran Desert uplands, Superior, Arizona
March 6, 2013 4:21 pm
I found this at Boyce-Thompson Arboretum in Superior Mountains in Arizona. This is harsh, no water, no live, desert. The arboretum is an oasis of supreme beauty and peace.
As I am desert rat, It was midsummer, midday, when this picture was taken.
Unfortunately I have only this one photo from this angle.
Thanks!
And thanks for going mobile!
Signature: srcbennett
Dear srcbennett,
We are happy to get some positive feedback on our new mobile friendly upgrades. There was some initial rockiness with the transition. Your caterpillar is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, Battus philenor, and they feed upon Pipevine and other plants plants in the genus Aristolochia. According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Digital Library website, a native species to the area is Aristolochia watsonii. The adult Pipevine Swallowtail is a beautiful blue butterfly.
Letter 20 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: Catapillars
Location: Vacaville, ca
April 3, 2015 12:33 pm
Please identify this catapillar in the attached pix. Location Vacaville, ca
Signature: Robin
Dear Robin,
It seems it has been years since we posted a new image of a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, Battus philenor.
Letter 21 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: Pipevine Swallowtail
Location: Tucson AZ
September 9, 2015 8:48 pm
Greetings!
Your excellent site helped me easily identify this caterpillar, but you did not seem to have a photo of a Pipevine Swallowtail on it’s preferred vegetation, which of course is Pipevine! Scientific Name: Aristolochia watsonii English Name: Southwestern pipevine, snakeroot, birthwort, Indian root
Perhaps you will find my photo useful. Use it at will.
Signature: bfrazier
Dear bfrazier,
Thanks so much for sending us your image of a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, and also for providing the information on the food plant. We love that the osmeterium, a fleshy forked organ on swallowtail caterpillars that releases what some have likened to a foul odor, is visible in your image.
Letter 22 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: A new creature for me
Location: SW Orange County –
June 3, 2017 1:17 pm
I have lived in NC, in the woods, for over 25 years but this was new. I didn’t even know where to begin looking it up: Beetle? Bug? Caterpillar? Poisonous for my hens or safe?
Signature: Virginia
Dear Virginia,
This is the caterpillar of a Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor. Adult Pipevine Swallowtails are lovely greenish-blue butterflies with orange spots on the undersides of the wings. According to BugGuide: “Caterpillar is quite distinctive, may be a mimic of the tropical onychophorans, called velvet worms. Dark brownish black (occasionally smoky red) with soft fleshy tentacle-like projections, usually red-orange dorsal warts over abdomen. Tentacles on T1 twice as long as those on following segments. ” We are post-dating your submission to go live later in the month when our editorial staff is away on holiday.
Thank you! Yes, what a beautiful butterfly from such a distinctly different caterpillar. And the caterpillar was so large! I really appreciate learning more about my friends in Nature. Virginia Leslie
Letter 23 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar
Subject: Bright red caterpillar
Location: Southern Arizona ( Santa Cruz county)
August 25, 2017 7:58 pm
I have been noticing these bright red caterpillars during my evening walks.
They are on a plant that I have not found on our property, so that may be their host plant
Do you know what is caterpillar is ?
Signature: Len Nowak ( Salero Ranch )
Dear Len,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar, and according to BugGuide: “Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include ‘Pipevine’ or ‘Dutchman’s Pipe’, Aristolochia species (tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds (including Aristolochic acid) from their hostplant. Both larvae and adults are believed toxic to vertebrate predators, and both have aposematic (warning) coloration.” The adult Pipevine Swallowtail is sometimes called a Blue Swallowtail and it is a gorgeous butterfly.
Letter 24 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar and Feeding Frenzy of Hackberry Emperors
Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars
Hi!
I Googled and got your site on the second hit. On the first hit, I saw an Eastern Swallowtail caterpillar misidentified as a Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar. I KNOW what an ES looks like; I wasn’t sure what I had eating the Pipevine plants I had just purchased at the Texas Discovery Garden Butterfly Plant sale (duh, right? LOL! Well, I just wanted to be sure!) I didn’t see any shots of the black variant on your site, so am sending you a couple if you can use them. If not, no worries; I don’t have a macro lens, and I was using a zoom lens, so it was hard to get a good depth of field focused. Thanks for your site; I’ve got it bookmarked.
Debbie
PS Have you ever successfully grown Pipevine, the plant? This is my fourth try, and each time the tubors get holes in them and then rot. I’m keeping these dryer, but have already lost one of the three plants I bought. The other two got hammered by this pair of larvae, so I have them in netting now. It hurts when I see butterflies flitting against the net, but if I can’t get them to grow, there won’t be anything to feed the caterpillars next year!
PPS I’m also including a shot of a rotten tomato I threw into the fenceline yesterday; today, it was covered with Hackberry and Mourning Cloak butterflies!
Hi Debbie,
Your afterthought photo of the Hackberry Emperor feeding frenzy is pretty awesome. We will be posting it as well as your Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar photo. Sorry, we have never grown pipevine and do not know anything about its horticultural needs.
Letter 25 – Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillars
Unknown Caterpillar
Location: Southeast Arizona desert scrub at 3500 feet elevation. N32 deg, 18.3min; W110 deg, 21.5 min
September 13, 2010 10:15 pm
Please identify this caterpillar.
Signature: Bob Evans
Hi Bob,
These are the caterpillars of the lovely Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor, which you can verify on BugGuide which indicates: “Larvae feed on Aristolochia species. These include “Pipevine” or “Dutchman’s Pipe”, Aristolochia species (tomentosa, durior, reticulata, californica), as well as Virginia Snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria. Larvae presumably take up toxic secondary compounds (including Aristolochic acid) from their hostplant. Both larvae and adults are believed toxic to vertebrate predators, and both have aposematic (warning) coloration.” We don’t normally think of them as a desert species, so your letter is quite welcome.
Letter 26 – Pipevine Swallowtails Mating
either Pipevine or Spicebush Swallowtails mating.
Hey bugman,
I took this picture earlier today in the Great Smoky Mountains National park of two Swallowtails mating that i thought turned out pretty good. they were right in the middle of the road (well, almost more of a driveway). i thought that was a weird place for them to mate. well hopefully this will be of use to your bug love page. anyway hope you enjoy it.
Michael Davis
Hi Michael,
These are mating Pipevine Swallowtails, and your photo is wonderful
Letter 27 – Pipevine Swallowtails Puddling
Pipevine Swallowtails puddling.
Hey bugman,
I thought I would share with you this picture I took today of some Pipevine Swallowtails puddling. I hope you like it. Thanks so much for an awesome website!!!
Michael Davis
Hi Michael,
Thanks so much for sending us your high quality image of this dramatic puddling event. Swallowtail butterflies are one of the families that frequently gather at water puddles to drink, the benefits being both moisture and minerals. We are sure some of our readers are very curious where this image was taken.
Hey Daniel,
sorry I forgot the location. It was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Letter 28 – Pipevine Caterpillars and Chrysalis
What is this caterpillar?
Can you identify this caterpillar? I found this in Nov 2007 in the Sutter Buttes of California. It was on the ground about 30 feet from a cluster of pupas that I found attached to a rock. Not sure if they are related. Thank You,
Richard Coleman
Hi Richard,
Your caterpillars are Pipevine Swallowtails, Battus philenor, and the Chrysalis is also from the Pipevine Swallowtail. Your photo does not show the silken girdle thread that keeps the chrysalis upright. This is a characteristic of the chrysalis of most swallowtails.
We have several of those at our ranch in our grasslands.
So, what does it look like when it turns into a butterfly?
Here is a link to an image from our archives entitled Pipevine Swallowtails Puddling.
I have looked for this caterpillar online many times to no avail. I was so excited to find this page of information. I live on 10 acres in the desert outside of Tucson. I have 1 of these plants on my property. It grows near a wash and resembles a houseplant. I have only seen a couple of these plants ever and that was on the way up Mt. Lemmon. Every season it is periodically covered with these beautiful black and red caterpillars. I have always wondered what they turned into. Thank you so much! Now I know!
Thank you so much! I watched the butterfly for quite some time, and never saw much iridescence at all. So nice to learn that this means she is female, and that she is identified as a Pipevine Butterfly. Thank you again!
Hi,
What a wonderful site! Thank you for helping us to identify the distinctive caterpillar we found yesterday while spending time in the desert to the north side of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson. Our group observed it for awhile and will be delighted to know it will someday turn into such a gorgeous butterfly. Do you know what time of year they tend to emerge from their chrysalides?
from happy Canadians visiting the Sonoran Desert
BugGuide provides this seasonal information: “Mid-summer in eastern United States. Does not fly as late into fall as other swallowtails. Caterpillars present from June into fall in temperate areas.” We suspect the seasonal sightings in Arizona might be different, and BugGuide data indicates Arizona sightings from February through October, but that does not distinguish between caterpillars, chrysalides and adults.
Hi,
What a wonderful site! Thank you for helping us to identify the distinctive caterpillar we found yesterday while spending time in the desert to the north side of Mt. Lemmon near Tucson. Our group observed it for awhile and will be delighted to know it will someday turn into such a gorgeous butterfly. Do you know what time of year they tend to emerge from their chrysalides?
from happy Canadians visiting the Sonoran Desert
Are Pipeline Swallowtail caterpillars poisonous to the touch ? Found two at a school.
To the best of our knowledge, they are not toxic to the touch.
We live ner the Santa Cruz River in Tubac. We have Pipevine butterflies in the yard all late Spring into Fall. Our daughter spotted some caterpillers a couple of weeks ago in our monsoon overgrown yard. I have seen one butterfly so far. We will not mow until later as there are other giagantic caterpillers muching around.
We have lots of Pipevine and a vineing milkweed being a pest to my garden at our daughters behest. its worth it.
We are camping in Catalina state park and have noticed these catapillers and wondered what they were. Thanks for the info.wish I could attach a picture
You may submit images using the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site.