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The Polydamus Swallowtail…the only Florida Swallowtail without a tail

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By Don Morris

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This is the only Swallowtail in Florida that lacks a tail. The upper side is all black except for a row of yellow chevrons near the margin of the wing but you will never see it because they are in constant high speed motion. The underside of the hindwing is a row of red wavy lines. The Polydamus Swallowtail mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail. Unfortunately we haven’t attracted this swallowtail to our pipevine yet.  You can notice the similarity of the Polydamus to the common Eastern Black Swallowtail as well. (See photos) We have also hosted the rearing of the Polydamus in our chrysalis house. (See photo of emerging) The Polydamus butterfly is rather long lived. Living for three weeks is common.

The Polydamus Swallowtail’s host plant is the Dutchman’s Pipevine. The Dutchman’s Pipevine is supposed to look like a Dutchman’s pipe but I don’t see it. It looks more like a pelican which is what they call this plant at the McKee Garden. (See photo)

The yellow eggs are laid in clusters on the tendrils of the Pipevine and quickly mature. (See photos) The caterpillars are glistening, dull-reddish color with several rows of orange, fleshy tubericles. When the caterpillars are young the hang out groups but became more solitary when they get old and fat. Because they feed on the toxic Pipevine they are distasteful to birds but not Fire Ants. Fire Ants will eat anything.