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Polydamas Swallowtail, Gold Rim, Tailless Swallowtail, Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild and Jordan) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Troidini)1
Donald W. Hall and Jerry F. Butler2Introduction
The polydamas swallowtail is one of only two United States swallowtails of the genus Battus andis our 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 (Figure 1). 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 (Figure 2).
CREDITS: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 1. Dorsal view of adult polydamas swallowtail, Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan).
CREDITS: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 2. Lateral view of adult polydamas swallowtail, Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan). Eggs are variable from yellow to orange or yellow-brown. Florida larvae (Figure 3) are typically dark brown with black-tipped orange tubercles and have an orange collar. Pupae (Figure 4) may be light brown with orange markings or light green with yellow markings.
CREDITS: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 3. Full grown larva of polydamas swallowtail, Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan).
CREDITS: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 4. Pupa of polydamas swallowtail, Battus polydamas lucayus (Rothschild & Jordan). 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 (Figure 5) 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 (Figure 6).
CREDITS: Donald Hall, University of Florida
Figure 5. Elegant dutchman's pipevine, Aristolochia littoralis Parodi.
CREDITS: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Figure 6. Virginia snakeroot, Aristolochia serpentaria L. The pipevines contain pharmacologically active aristolochic acids that are stored by B. polydamas and by the blue or pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor, a close relative. Battus philenor is distasteful because of these chemicals and is believed to be the model for other dark swallowtails in a Batesian mimicry complex. Battus polydamas is believed to also be distasteful to vertebrates and also may serve as a Batesian model in some parts of its range.
Adults feed on nectar from a variety of flowers and are reported to be particularly fond of the flowers of Lantana camara Linnaeus (Figures 7 and 8). They are occasionally abundant on flowers in the vicinity of their host plants.
CREDITS: Donald Hall, University of Florida
Figure 7. Lantana camara Linnaeus (Verbenaceae) - orange form.
CREDITS: Donald Hall, University of Florida
Figure 8. Lantana camara Linnaeus (Verbenaceae) - pink form. Selected References
Daniels J.C. 2000. Butterflies 1: Butterflies of the Southeast. UF/IFAS. Card Set. SP 273.Gerberg, E.J. and R.H. Arnett. 1989. Florida Butterflies. National Science Publications, Inc. Baltimore, MD.
Medley, J.C., and T.R. Fasulo. (1998). Florida Butterfly Tutorials. http://pests.ifas.ufl.edu/software/ det_bfly.htm . (November 1998).
Miller, J.Y. 1992. The Common Names of North American Butterflies. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.
Minno, M.C. and T.C. Emmel. 1993. Butterflies of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers. Gainesville, FL.
Opler, P.A. and G.O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD.
Scott, J.A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press. Stanford, CA.
Scriber, J.M., Y. Tsubaki and R.C. Lederhouse, Eds. 1995. Swallowtail Butterflies: Their Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Scientific Publishers, Inc. Gainesville, FL.
Urz£a, A. and H. Priestap. 1985. Aristolochic acids from Battus polydamus. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 13: 169-170.
Footnotes
1. This document is EENY-062 (IN219), one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 1998. Revised: May 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Donald W. Hall, professor and Jerry F. Butler, professor, Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
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