Pipevine Swallowtail (LEP2) Battus philenor
Small greenish spots run around the edges of the wings. The forewings are jet black, but the
hindwings with their tails shimmer with a brilliant blue or blue-green iridescence. The caterpillars feed on poisonous pipevines,
which give the adults an awful taste.
Birds avoid them and several other butterflies that have come to mimic
the Pipevine. The example here is on
Japanese honeysuckle. |