Polydamas Swallowtail

The polydamas, also known as the gold rim swallowtail, tailless swallowtail and scientific name Battus polydamas lucayus, lays its eggs on the Dutchman pipe. This is the only swallowtail that lacks the tails at the base of the secondary wings, according to the University of Florida.

This species can be found throughout peninsular Florida, as well as in the Florida Keys. There are some that wander as far north as Missouri and Kentucky.

The polydamas swallowtail’s wings range from 9.2 to 11.6 centimeters.

The female is larger than the males. According to the University of Florida, the males have scent scales, which are hidden on the fold of the inner margin of the upper surface of the hind legs. The scales are “fluted,” releasing pheromones easier. When the mating dance begins, the male will helicopter around the female, all while fanning those chemicals over them.

The life cycle

The polydamas lays yellow to orange eggs in clusters of 10 to 14, which can typically be spotted on newly developed stems, or growing tips, of the Dutchman pipe. The butterfly tends to lay its eggs on the Dutchman pipe that are in sunny areas, although the caterpillars have a higher survival rate in the shade.

The eggs can be yellow to orange in color and 1 mm in diameter. As they mature the eggs will turn a greenish color as the larvae develop.

It takes four to six days to hatch. Once they emerge from their egg, they consume it before going onto the leaves of the plant.

The polydamas swallowtail caterpillars feed in groups when they are small, devouring the youngest leaves, as well as flowers before moving onto the older portions of the Dutchman pipe.

The caterpillar will go through four instars, 19 to 24 days, before it’s ready to form its chrysalis. The colors of the caterpillars are a bit different during the first instar, with tan and small tubercles. Once the caterpillar molts into the second instar, they become dark brown with larger tubercles.

They have a black head, prothorax top is orange and short dark stripes. Once the caterpillars enter the third instar, the caterpillar becomes smoother with a glossy appearance.

Once they are full grown, the caterpillar can be either dark brown with black tips and orange tubercles to a lighter tan color with paler tubercles.

Each time it molts its skin, the caterpillar will consume its exoskeleton to conserve the nutrients.

The caterpillars grow up to 2.1″ in length.

The older caterpillars will eat the leaves, stems and flowers, while the young chew on the new tender leaves and young stems of the Dutchman pipe.

When the caterpillar is ready to enter its next stage it attaches a silk pad with its terminal prolegs, so it can hang from a silk girdle.

The chrysalis, I have seen in two different colors, green and brown, both imitating dead leaves, or a fresh one. The pattern on its chrysalis resembles what is found on the leaf as well. This one emerged from its chrysalis after 16 days. I have had others that emerged more than 20 days later.

The striking butterfly

The polydamas that we have been able to successfully raise in our butterfly house have all emerged from its chrysalis in the morning, before 10 a.m. This one was no exception. According to the University of Florida, when it emerges it leaves a reddish, liquid “meconium,” which is a breakdown of old larval tissue during the pupal stage, from its anus.

There are more than three generations of the polydamas swallowtail that are produced every year and can be found in Peninsular Florida and Southern Texas.

More photos of the tailless swallowtail