Description:  The upper surface of the wings of the male butterfly has an iridescent metallic blue sheen. The hind under wings have a series of pale, arrow-head markings above and a single row of seven round orange spots, which never touch, set in an iridescent blue field below. The forewings are dull blackish-brown

Habitat: Foothills, desert, scrub and gardens.

Host Plant: The Pipe Vine is poisonous because it contains an acid which is a toxic alkaloid. The Pipeline Swallowtail is immune - their caterpillars sequester the toxins which then make them undesirable to predators as adults.

Range:  In the United States, the butterfly is found in New England down to Florida, from Southern Ontario (Canada) to Nerbraska, Texas, California, Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona below 6,000 feet in elevation.

Breeding:  The picture on the left above shows a pair mating. After mating, the female will find the the irregularly triangular leaves of the Pipe Vine plant by leaf shape and chemistry. Before laying eggs, she searches for previously laid eggs. If none are found, she lays 1-10 eggs in a cluster on the underside of the leaf.
  
Interesting Facts:  Because of its unpleasant taste, predators leave the Pipevine Swallowtail alone. The Black Swallowtail and the Red-spotted Admiral butterflies are mimics of the Pipevine Swallowtail and thus are also safe from predators.