Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor philenor |
Habitat: Open fields, bushy or wooded areas
and in gardens.
Flight: February to November.
Preferred Foods: Common near host plants or pink, purple or orange flowers
as a nectar source.
Larvae: Feed on Dutchman's Pipe and other species of Aristolochia.
Distribution: All of Florida south to Ft. Myers. |
Gold Rim Swallowtail
Battus polydamas lucayus |
Habitat: Adults frequent open fields and
pine woods including suburban gardens.
Flight: In south Florida all year.
Preferred Foods: Lantana nectar.
Larvae: Feed on various species of Dutchman's Pipe.
Distribution: North central Florida south to Miami and the Florida Keys;
not in south central Florida. |
Zebra Swallowtail
Eurytides marcellus floridensis |
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands along streams
and rivers near larval food plant.
Flight: In Florida from March to December.
Preferred Foods: Search for nectar from a variety of plants.
Larvae: Feed on pawpaw (Asimina triloba) in the Panhandle and
other species of Asimina.
Distribution: All of Florida except southeast coast north of Miami. |
American (=Black) Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes asterius |
Habitat: Open fields including gardens.
Flight: All year in Florida.
Preferred Foods: Search for nectar from a variety of plants.
Larvae: Feed on wild carrot (Daucus carota) in the Panhandle and
other umbelliferous plants.
Distribution: All of Florida except for small area north of Miami. |
Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes |
Habitat: Woodlands and citrus groves.
Flight: All year in south Florida. Migrates far
north and west.
Preferred Foods: Adults sip nectar from many flowers and juice from manure.
Larvae: Feed on citrus and torchwood (Amyris elemifera) and other
Rutaceae.
Distribution: All of Florida. |
ENDANGERED SUBSPECIES
Schaus' (=Island) Swallowtail
Papilio aristodemus ponceanus |
Habitat: Subtropical wooded areas flying
about the tree canopy.
Flight: Late April, May to end of July. Very rare, protected.
Preferred Foods: Nectar from many flowers.
Larvae: Feed on torchwood (Amyris elemifera) and wild lime (Zanthoxylum
fagara).
Distribution: On north Florida Keys. |
Queen Swallowtail
Papilio androgeus epidaurus |
Habitat: Subtropical and tropical wooded
areas sometimes common in orange groves.
Flight: March to November.
Preferred Foods: Nectar from many flowers and drinking at mud.
Larvae: Feed on orange (Citrus sinensis) in Florida.
Distribution: South Florida in groves. |
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus australis |
Habitat: Near edge of deciduous woods.
Flight: March to November.
Preferred Foods: Feed on nectar of many flowers, also visit mud and
carrion.
Larvae: Feed on wide variety of trees and sometimes shrubs such as wild
cherry, yellow poplar and ash.
Distribution: All of Florida except Keys, rare in Dade County. |
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus ilioneus |
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands.
Flight: March to December.
Preferred Foods: Common on flowers and mud.
Larvae: Feed on sassafras (in Panhandle), spicebush, camphor tree (Cinnamomum
camphora) sweet bay, and prickly ash (Zanthoxylum coriaceum).
Distribution: All of Florida except Miami area. |
Laurel (=Palamedes) Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes |
Habitat: Wooded areas, particularly swampy
areas.
Flight: March to December.
Preferred Foods: Common on many kinds of flowers and mud.
Larvae: In wet areas, feed on red bay (Persea borbonia) and
avocado (Persea americana) and other species of Lauraceae growing in swampy
areas.
Distribution: Almost all of Florida except in central prairie areas
and Florida Keys. |
