Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) life cycle

Larval hosts: Aristolochiaceae - pipevine family

Texas Swanflower (Aristolochia erecta)
White-Veined Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia fimbriata)
Marsh's Dutchman's Pipe (Aristlochia pendrata aka Aristolochia marshii)

Am assuming there are other pipevine species used by the Pipevine Swallowtail but those are the only one's I am familiar with that they use down here.

This is a male Pipevine Swallowtail - note the iridescent blue on the hind wings

Pipevine Swallowtail - mating pair

Pipevine Swallowtail - ovipositing female

That teeny little bit of green plant sprouting from the ground is aristolochia erecta. I am always amazed at how a butterfly can find such a tiny sliver of blade and then lay several eggs on it!!!

Pipevine Swallowtail - eggs (on aristolochia erecta)

Pipevine Swallowtail - eggs (on aristolochia erecta) up close view

Pipevine Swallowtail - second instar caterpillars (out here in south Texas the caterpillars tend to be a bright orange color)

Pipevine Swallowtail - 4th instar caterpillar

Pipevine Swallowtail - starting to pupate

Pipevine Swallowtail - almost done pupating

Pipevine Swallowtail - chrysalis (color may vary from green to tan to a dark brown)

Pipevine Swallowtail - chrysalis - note color difference from green in the foreground to dark brown in the background

Pipevine Swallowtail - roosting

A couple of years ago we had a long winter season then Spring sprang and we had a mass emergence of Pipevine Swallowtails. Seems like all the PVS out at the ranch all eclosed within about three days. The weather was bright and sunny during they day but as the sun started to set the weather got chilly. I noticed hundreds of PVS coming together to roost in a couple of trees behind the house. This phenomena lasted for only about two weeks.

Beautiful Cat! I especially liked the two enjoying some afternoon delight! For some reason I never see the PVS doing that.

I have only seen singles visiting my yard. Hopefully since I have more PV this year they will come around and lay some eggs. Photos of the eggs and others are super nice Cat, thanks for posting them. I hadn't realized they lay groups of eggs.

Gosh ya'll...we get Pipevine Swallowtails all year around - plenty of love in the air - so much that I don't even bother taking photos anymore :o)

For everyone reading this posting - please provide the common and scientific name of the larval host plant you have seen Pipevine Swallowtails use or that you have raised them on without any ill effect.

They will not use aristlochia elegans out here.