The life cycle of the pipevine swallowtail begins with the adult male, who patrols likely habitats in search of receptive females. After mating, the female lays eggs on the underside of host plant leaves. At a young age caterpillars feed in small groups, but with time they become solitary. The pipevine swallowtail over winters in the chrysalis (pupal) stage.
Pipevine swallowtails can be found from South Ontario to New England all the way down the east coast to Florida, west through Nebraska and Texas as well as Arizona and California, Oregon, and south to Mexico. They prefer warm habitats. It is not uncommon to find them in open woodlands, meadows, gardens, orchards, and roadsides. The larvae feed on such plants as the pipevine. The pipevine is a distasteful host plant, which makes the pipevine caterpillar distasteful to birds, serving as a defense mechanism. The butterfly then feeds only on the nectar from flowers such as thistle, lilac, azalea, phlox, petunia, lantana, verbena, orchids, and honeysuckle.
Brad Stowe
Kelly Johnstone
Insect Biology & Diversity Fall 2003
