Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

We don’t see Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) butterflies very often and when we do, they’re usually on the move. On a recent trip to the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge southwest of Hillsboro in Jones County, Georgia, this swallowtail was on the move but stopped to rest on a Sweetgum (Liquidamber styraciflua) branch for a while.

Partially in the shade and facing the camera directly, this butterfly shows only a hint of blue on the wings.

In the sun and at a slightly different angle, blue color is visible on the abdomen.

Taken in 2009, this photograph shows the distinctive pattern on the underside of the wings.
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Identification resources:
- Butterflies and Moths of North America: Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- Westcentral Georgia Butterflies by Michael Beohm: Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- BugGuide: Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)