Class: Hexapoda (animals with six legs - includes all insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
lepido = scale and ptera = wings
The wings are covered with small scales.
Family: Papilionidae (swallowtails and parnasians)
The back wings of swallowtails have short broad
extensions.
Subfamily: Papilioninae (swallowtails)
Species: Battus philenor
Common Name: Pipevine Swallowtail
Date: 2001 June through August (with reduced numbers)
Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
open areas in the lowlands and along the trails, Frijole Ranch
This large, dark butterfly is found throughout the park and can be quite common. It can often be seen nectaring at pink thistle flowers. Under the right lighting conditions, you will see flashes of blue that come from the iridescent back wings. Birds find both the butterfly and its caterpillar distasteful.
Links
Note: This is a personal web site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Contact information for the author, Ron Lyons, is accessible through the Index Page referenced below. Thank you.