Common rose swallowtail
This swallowtail's caterpillars store poisons from the toxic vines they eat, and the resulting bitter taste protects the adult butterfly for the rest of its life.
| Where | Forest edges, gardens and urban parks |
|---|---|
| Size | 80 to 110 mm wingspan |
| When | January to December |
The Common rose swallowtail is velvety black with white streaks across the forewing and a curved band of white spots on the hindwing, set off by a row of dull crimson crescents along the outer margin and a bright red body.
Caterpillars feed only on pipevines of the genus Aristolochia, taking up toxic compounds from the leaves that make the adult unpalatable to birds and other predators for life.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Black, Red, White
Active
Day
To people
Mild
Slow and conspicuous in flight, advertising the toxins it carries from its host plants; safe to touch, though not to eat.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Has red spots on the forewing as well as the hindwing, while the Common rose swallowtail's forewing is plain black with pale streaks and no red spots.
Questions
Is the Common rose swallowtail dangerous to people?
Mild. Slow and conspicuous in flight, advertising the toxins it carries from its host plants; safe to touch, though not to eat.
When can you see the Common rose swallowtail?
The Common rose swallowtail can be seen from January to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Swiss Natural History Collections - SwissNatColl, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Swallowtails›Pachliopta
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.