Pipevine swallowtail butterfly

I found butterfly eggs on my native pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) and brought them inside. I’ve enjoyed watching the caterpillars hatch, grow, and make chrysalises. This past weekend, six weeks later, the butterflies emerged and are now flying in and out of the backyard.

pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) on purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea)

Beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) on native purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) – what a delight!

pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) on Kentucky native Lady Frn (Athryium felix-femina)

Here’s a different view of the the same butterfly on native Lady Fern (Athrium felix-femina). In the right light the iridescent blue is breathtaking.

4 thoughts on “Pipevine swallowtail butterfly”

  1. Beautiful! The iridesence is captured in your photo but I
    can imagine it is even more captivating when seen first
    hand.

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