Polydamas Swallowtail

Introduction

The Polydamas Swallowtail is one of only two United States swallowtails of the genus Battus and is the only eastern United States swallowtail without tails.

Distribution

The polydamas (subspecies lucayus) swallowtail is a tropical species occurring in peninsular Florida, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. At least 12 other subspecies occur in areas of southern Texas, throughout the Antilles, and through Central and South America to Argentina. Occasional strays wander as far north as Missouri and Kentucky.

Description

The wingspread range is 3.9 to 4.8 cm. The upper surface of the wings is black with submarginal yellow bands. The underside of the wings is black with a submarginal row of yellow spots on the front wing and a submarginal row of wavy red lines on the hind wing. The body of the adult is black with red dots dorsally on the anterior part of the thorax and red-orange dots laterally on the thorax and coxae. An orange lateral line runs the length of the abdomen.

Eggs are variable from yellow to orange or yellow-brown. Florida larvae are typically dark brown with black-tipped orange tubercles and have an orange collar. Pupae may be light brown with orange markings or light green with yellow markings.

Life Cycle

The polydamas swallowtail favors open woods or disturbed areas. There are many flights all year in southern Florida and southern Texas, but they are rare during the winter. Eggs are laid in small groups on stems or tips of new leaves of pipevines of the genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiales: Aristolochiaceae). Young larvae are gregarious, but become solitary as they mature. Larvae feed on leaves and flowers of the host.

The native host in southern Florida is believed to be Marsh's dutchman's pipe Aristolochia pentandra Jacq. However, a variety of exotic ornamental pipevines are cultured in the United States, and polydamas larvae commonly use them for hosts often becoming pests by defoliating the vines and eating the flowers. Two of the most common of these exotic species are dutchman's pipe, A. macrophylla Lam. (synonyms: A. durior Hill and A. sipho L'Heritier, Stirp.), and elegant dutchman's pipe or calico flower, A. littoralis Parodi (synonym: A. elegans M.T. Mast). Larvae have also been recorded from Virginia snakeroot, A. serpentaria L., a native species that ranges from central Florida northward.

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