Goldrim or Polydamas Swallowtail Butterfly

Gold Rim Swallowtail or Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamus

The Gold Rim Swallowtail's host or larval food plants are pipevines. Many species of pipevine are available. The Gold Rim and the Pipevine Swallowtails are very particular about the species their caterpillars eat.
Feeding the wrong pipevine to a caterpillar can cause its death.
Calico Vine, Aristolochia elegans, is easy to grow for Gold Rim Swallowtail caterpillars.
To receive free seed for Calico Vine send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm, 12876 Southwest County Road 231, Brooker, FL 32622
Also included on this page are photos showing how to tell the difference between a Gold Rim Swallowtail (Polydamas Swallowtail) and Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar (larva) and chrysalis (pupa).


The Gold Rim is the only 'tailless' swallowtail in the United States.	Beautiful from the side, a Gold Rim drinks nectar from Lantana.	Gold Rim eggs are green/yellow. (Pipevine eggs are burgundy.)

Hatchlings cluster as they feed upon pipevine.	A microscope takes a look at hatchling Gold Rim caterpillars.	The osmeterium of Gold Rim larvae are yellow.

Two Gold Rim caterpillars share the remains of the same leaf.	Gold Rim caterpillars eat the tender stems (vines) of their host plants.	Gold Rim Swallowtail caterpillars have a golden band above their head. Pipevine caterpillars do not.

If it pupates near green leaves it usually becomes a green chrysalis.	If it pupates near something dead, in darkness, or near something brown, it will ususally become a brown chrysalis.	Gold Rim and Pipevine chrysalises resemble. The Gold Rim chrysalis has a band across its head.

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Shady Oak Butterfly Farm Toll free 877-485-2458 12876 SW CR 231 Brooker, Fl 32622 Stephen & Edith Smith

Located 45 minutes from the Butterfly Rainforest Exhibit at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida

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Association for Butterflies: Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening. If you would like to join to; go to www.forbutterflies.org

At Shady Oak Butterfly Farm we have raised over 40 species of butterflies and moths.

Member of the Association for Butterflies: Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening. If you would like to join to; go to www.forbutterflies.org

At Shady Oak Butterfly Farm we have raised over 40 species of butterflies and moths.

Member of the
Association for Butterflies: Research, Conservation, Farming, and Gardening. If you would like to join to; go to www.forbutterflies.org