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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Swallowtails, Parnassians (Papilionidae) » Papilioninae » Birdwings, Cattlehearts and Aristolochia Swallowtails (Troidini) » Battus » Polydamas Swallowtail - Hodges#4158 (Battus polydamas) » "Florida" Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas lucayus)
Photo#6096
Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas
Copyright © 2004 Alan Chin Lee

Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas
South, Florida, USA
Battus polydamas pupae take on two different color forms determined by surroundings, not sex. If the larva pupates on a smooth surface, it will usually produce a green pupa as it equates smooth with new growth. If the surface is rough, it equates that as mature growth and that normally produces the brown variation.
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Contributed by Alan Chin Lee on 23 August, 2004 - 10:41pm
Last updated 19 June, 2012 - 10:41am

Moved
Moved from Polydamas Swallowtail.
… Bill Reynolds, 19 June, 2012 - 10:42am login or register to post comments

Nice, Alan!
A demostrative and beautiful photo. We currently have a very large brood pupating in our back yard right now. They've all but stripped their host plant!
… Brian E Womble, 9 August, 2007 - 6:00pm login or register to post comments

 
Chrysalis
How far do they go from the host plant to make their chysalis? Have you observed that?
… Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, 26 March, 2017 - 6:58pm login or register to post comments

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