Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
Last reviewed: June 2026
Pipevine Swallowtail is known for its iridescent blue-green hindwing scales.
Host plants
Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Aristolochia fimbriata — see Texas Pipevine (same genus)
- Serpentary (Aristolochia serpentaria)
- Dutchman'S-Pipe (Isotrema macrophyllum)
- Woolly Dutchman's-pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa)
Want Pipevine Swallowtail in your yard? Open Serpentary in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Papilionidae
Wingspan
76–102 mm
Active
April through September
Range
TX, AL, AR, AZ and 33 more states
How to identify it
Look for a predominantly black butterfly with iridescent blue-green scaling on the hindwings, especially visible when sunlight hits the wings.
Good to know
- Caterpillars are toxic to predators due to chemicals absorbed from pipevine host plants
- Males and females have slightly different wing patterns
Common questions
- What do Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars eat?
- Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars feed on Aristolochia fimbriata, Aristolochia serpentaria, Isotrema macrophyllum, and Aristolochia tomentosa. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do Pipevine Swallowtail live?
- Pipevine Swallowtail is found across TX, AL, AR, AZ and 33 more states.
- When are Pipevine Swallowtail active?
- Adult Pipevine Swallowtail are typically on the wing from April through September.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist, GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by-nc.