Pipevine Swallowtail at Carolina Park, Brantford

[Bill Lamond]

Hi,

Early this afternoon (8 July 2026) I saw a female Pipevine Swallowtail in my yard attempting to oviposit on Dutchman's Pipe. It was flying around for about 2 minutes before it finally left. This is the 3^rd or 4^th time I have encountered this species in my yard after deliberately planting the foodplant for the butterfly about 32 years ago.

I note on iNaturalist that this is the 4^th record for the year for Ontario. There was a previous sighting this year in June in the Hamilton area on Sunrise Cres in Dundas.

I often wonder whether the butterfly can detect the odour of Dutchman's Pipe when it is quite some distance away. If this is the case, I should be pulling in any wandering Pipevine Swallowtail that strays near as their is a profusion of the plant in my yard such that I am pulling out new underground shoots on a daily basis to try to keep it under control and stop it from taking over every space. I suppose a nice problem to have.

Bill