Polydamas Swallowtail

The Gold Rim Swallowtail or Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas) is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in the Neotropic ecozone of North America and South America], and the Southernmost parts of the North American Nearctic ecozone in Mexico.


Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines. Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids. The wingspan is 90–120 mm. The larvae feed on Aristolochia species.

The upper surface of the wings is black with submarginal yellow bands. 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.

Posted in: P,Papilionidae,Polydamas Swallowtail