Aristolochic-acid

Guides

• Battus polydamas lucayus

  Florida Polydamas Swallowtail, Polydamas Swallowtail, Gold Rim, Tailless Swallowtail

  A tailless swallowtail butterfly distinguished by gold-rimmed black wings with red spots. Larvae feed exclusively on pipevine plants (Aristolochia) and sequester toxic aristolochic acids for chemical defense, rendering both caterpillars and adults unpalatable to vertebrate predators. Adults exhibit slow, weak flight and are active pollinators.

  swallowtailchemical-defenseBatesian-mimicryaristolochic-acidosmeteriumtaillesspollinatorFlorida-endemic