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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Papilionidae
77a0363 – 4166   Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758
Distribution Data for Papilio machaon
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Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Apiaceae Asteraceae Rutaceae.  Host genera: Angelica Artemisia Conioselinum Cymopterus Daucus Dictamnus Foeniculum Heracleum Ligusticum Lomatium Musineon Pastinaca Petasites Thamnosma Zizia.  Notes: young larvae eat leaves, older larvae prefer the inflorescence (Scott 2020).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • machaon Linnaeus, 1758 (Papilio) extralim. - MONA 1983: 4166
  • ssp. a. aliaska Scudder, 1869 (Papilio)
  • joannisi Verity, [1907] (Papilio)
  • petersii Clark, 1932 (Papilio)
  • ssp. b. hudsonianus Clark, 1932 (Papilio)
  • avinoffi Chermock & Chermock, 1937 (Papilio)
  • comstocki Scott, 1986 (Papilio)
  • comstocki Scott & Troubridge, 1981 (Papilio)
  • frechini Seyer, 1977 (Papilio)
  • kahli Chermock & Chermock, 1937 (Papilio) - MONA 1983: [4162]
  • kwakwapooshesi Seyer, 1977 (Papilio)
  • prestoni Seyer, 1977 (Papilio)
  • ssp. c. pikei Sperling, 1987 (Papilio)
  • ssp. d. oregonia Edwards, 1876 (Papilio) - MONA 1983: [4165]
  • ssp. e. dodi McDunnough, 1939 (Papilio)
  • ssp. f. bairdii Edwards, 1866 (Papilio) - MONA 1983: [4164]
  • ampliata Scott, 1981 (Papilio)
  • brucei Edwards, 1895 (Papilio)
  • comstocki Scott, 1981 (Papilio)
  • hollandii Edwards, 1892 (Papilio)
  • utahensis Strecker, [1878] (Papilio)
  • References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
    • Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    • Species Page at the Butterflies of America

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