Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands, gardens, meadows, and riverbanks where pipevine host plants grow.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; feeds exclusively on species in the Aristolochia (pipevine) genus, which makes them distasteful to predators.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are often gregarious in early stages but become solitary as they age. They sequester toxins from their host plants for defense. They undergo complete metamorphosis through pupation in a chrysalis.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem as a pollinator in its adult butterfly stage. Though harmless to humans, they are poisonous to predators if ingested. They are generally not considered garden pests unless pipevines are the desired ornamental plant.

Identified on: 5/25/2026