Battus philenor hirsuta

Photo Life History: Bay Natives

Habitat:  Mountain Canyons of Northern California.

Host Plants:  Aristolochia californica

Suitable Lab Host Plants:  Most any species of pipevine will work in the lab.

Caring for Live Female Butterflies:  Feed females regularly.

Methods of Female Oviposition:  Open Screen Cages

How to Find Eggs: Look on host plants with new growth. 

How to Hatch Eggs:  Separate eggs individually  (Larvae can be cannibalistic.)

How to Find Caterpillars in the Field: 

Caterpillar setups:  Open terrariums; Open Bucket; Potted Plant  (Dutchman's pipevine works as an excellent host and is sold in many nurseries in 1 and five gallon pots.)  Regardless of your setup, always remember to provide plenty of host plant for larvae as they can be cannibalistic.

Larva to Pupa:  Larva purges and wanders

How to Find Pupae in the Field:  Subspecies hirsuta have been known to pupate right on the plant and have been found during the winter months.  Look on dead vines and nearby areas.

Number of Broods per Year:  2

Overwintering Stage:  Pupa. 

Overwintering Strategies: Your Own Backyard; Refrigerator

Post-Hibernation Strategies: Expose post-diapause pupae to warmer temperatures (room temperature) Long-Day Photoperiod; High Humidity.  (Mist spray pupae daily once your bring them out of the cold or refrigerator.)

Avoiding Diapause Techniques:  Provide larvae with healthy host plant and expose larvae long-day conditions.

Disease Prevention:  Change out host plant and remove frass every four to six days. 

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Field Notes:  Flies in Northern California.