Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
Pipevine Swallowtail · Brooklyn Botanic Garden · 26 July 2025
A Pipevine Swallowtail in the July border at the Botanic Garden, a butterfly of the woods and gardens of the eastern and southern states wherever pipevine grows, and the model for half the dark swallowtails around it.
The caterpillars feed exclusively on pipevine, taking up the plant's aristolochic acid and staying toxic through to the adult, which is why several unrelated species, including the dark female tiger swallowtail, have evolved to look like it. The iridescent blue only shows at certain angles; face-on in flat light the same butterfly can look almost entirely black.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.