Genus
Battus (Pipevine swallowtails and allies)
Battus philenor. Photo: (c) Edward Perry IV, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Battus is a New World genus of butterflies that are usually found around pipevine (genus Aristolochia) plants. The caterpillars feed off the poisonous pipevines, making the insects poisonous themselves; they taste very bad to ward off predators. Since birds avoid these butterflies, other swallowtail species mimic their coloration. The common North American species are Battus polydamas and Battus philenor.
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