Plants and Animals
Battus philenor Pipevine swallowtail
Key Characteristics
Wingspan 3.75-4.5 inches (9.5-11.5 cm). Hindwings tailed. Black with blue-green iridescence on hindwing upperside, very strong in male, weak in female. Small, white submarginal spots on both wings. Underside of hindwing with outer half brilliant iridescent blue, with a submarginal row of large round orange spots ringed with black. Mature caterpillars are velvety black or dark brown with about three paired rows of fleshy red tubercles along the body.
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Cass | 2 | 2017 |
| Ingham | 1 | 2012 |
| Lenawee | 3 | 2024 |
| St. Joseph | 2 | 1987 |
| Washtenaw | 1 | 2015 |
| Wayne | 1 | 2015 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
Open fields and railroad embankments near oak-hickory woods. Open areas near deciduous woodlands, including gardens and beach areas. Eggs are laid in small clusters on Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria), wild ginger (Asarum sp.), or Dutchman's pipe.
Specific Habitat Needs
Host plant needed in: Dry-mesic southern forest; Floodplain forest; Mesic southern forest.
Natural Community Types
- Great lake, littoral, benthic
- Great lake, pelagic, benthic
- Inland lake, littoral, benthic
- Inland lake, pelagic, benthic
- Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), pool
- Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), run
- Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), riffle
- River (5th-6th order), pool
- River (5th-6th order), run
- River (5th-6th order), riffle
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Threats to this species include habitat loss or degradation due to invasive plants and non-consumptive recreation (e.g., ORV use) as well as use of pesticides and herbicides, loss of the host plant, Aristolochia, and lack of scientific knowledge. The sites at which this species has been documented should be protected and maintained. Adequate and suitable habitat at these sites need to be maintained including sufficient densities of the species' host plants. In some cases, emphasis may be on restoration of highly degraded sites, with subsequent reintroductions. Management activities in or near known extant sites should utilize existing trails and avoid impacting areas with large concentrations of the hostplants. The reduction of ORV traffic by road closure also is recommended in or near known extant sites or areas with potential for the species to minimize adverse impacts to the species and its habitat. Additionally, surveys are needed to determine this species' status, abundance and distribution in the state. Research to obtain additional information on this species' life history and ecology and assess threats to this species also is warranted.
Active Period
Gravid from first week of April to first week of October
Survey Methods
The best way to survey for this species is by conducting visual meander surveys which consists of checking for this species near larval food plants, on adult nectar sources, and in mud puddles.
Glass-bottom bucket less than waist deep water
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
Time of Day: Daytime
Water Level: Low Water Levels
Water Turbidity: Low Turbidity
SCUBA greater than waist deep water
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
Time of Day: Daytime
References
Survey References
- Strayer, D.L. and D.R. Smith. 2003. A Guide to Sampling Freshwater Mussel Populations. American Fisheries Society Monograph 8, Bethesda. 103pp.
Technical References
- Box, J.B. and J. Mossa. 1999. Sediment, land use, and freshwater mussels: prospects and problems. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 18:99-117.
- Oesch, R.D. 1995. Missouri Naiades: A Guide to the Mussels of Missouri.
- Pip, E. 1995. Cadmium, lead and copper in freshwater mussels from the Assiniboine River, Manitoba, Canada. Journal of Molluscan Studies 61:295-302.
- Sethi, Suresh A., Andrew R. Selle, Martin W. Doyle, Emily H. Stanley, and Helen E. Kitchel. 2004. Response of unionid mussels to dam removal in Koshkonong Creek, Wisconsin (USA). Hydrobiologia 525:157-165.
- Valenti, T.W., D.S. Cherry, R.J. Currie, R.J. Neeves, J.W. Jones, R. Mair, and C.M. Kane. 2006. Chlorine toxicity to early like stages of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 25(9):2512-18.
- Valenti, T.W., D.S. Cherry, R.J. Neves, and J. Schmerfeld. 2005. Acute and chronic toxicity of mercury to early life stages of the rainbow mussel, Villosa iris (Bivalvia: Unionidae). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24(5):1242-6.
- Wang, N., C.G. Ingersoll, I.E. Greer, D.K. Hardesty, C.D. Ivey, J.L. Kunz, W.G. Brumbaugh, F.J. Dwyer, A.D. Robers, T. Augspurger, C.M. Cane, R.J. Neves, and M.C. Barnhart. 2007. Assessing contaminant sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae): Chronic toxicity testing of juvenile mussels with copper and ammonia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 35pp.
- Watters, G. Thomas, Michael A. Hoggarth, and David H. Stansbery. 2009. The Freshwater Mussels of Ohio. The Ohio State University Press, Columbus. 421 pp.