Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly on Orange Zinnia T-Shirt

This is a gorgeous Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly(Battus philenor.) Pipevines are smallish medium sized black butterflies (2.75" - 4.0") with the classic elongated 'tails' at the tips of the hindwings (thus the name Swallowtail.) Black wings have iridescent blue on the underside and rows of orange and white spots near the wing edges. This beautiful butterfly is sometimes called the "Blue Swallowtail".

Birds find the caterpillar and butterfly to be distasteful,because the caterpillars feed off chemically noxious pipevine plants like Snakeroot and Dutchman's Pipe. This toxic diet protects the butterflies throughout their life cycle.


Pipevine Swallowtails can be found in the southern United States, from the Gulf Coast north to near Chicago, and from the Atlantic seaboard west to Arizona. They are not common in my Ohio garden, but I do usually spot a couple each year, so when I see one, I run to grab my camera!






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'When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.' ~ Ansel Adams . . . . . . . . . . Please visit my sites at https://pixels.com/art/artist+karen+adams and https://designerprints.com/art/artist+karen+adams "Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on Earth will be filled with glory" ~ Betty Smith, American author (1896-1972) I have always loved taking pictures. I majored in Fine Arts at Ohio University in Athens where I concentrated on painting and ceramics. Photography was a hobby I loved, but have still never taken a class. Hopefully, I will get around to that some...