| Papilio machaon bairdii Linnaeus, 1758
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| Status: Uncommon to common local resident. |
| Flight Period(s): There are at least two broods. In Nebraska it has been found from 15 April – 15 September. |
| Range: Various subspecies and forms of Papilio machaon are found from Alaska south into most of Arizona and New Mexico, and in southern Canada east into Quebec. In Nebraska the yellow form “brucei” ranges from the panhandle southeast through the loess hills of the southcentral counties. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): A sage - Silky Wormwood (Artemesia dracunculus) is the primary hostplant although it has also been reard from larvae found on Musineon tenuifolium at Scotts Bluff National Monument. |
| Overwinter: As pupae. |
| Commentary/Habitat: In Nebraska ‘Baird’s’ Old World Swallowtail is most common in the loess hills of southwest and southcentral portions of the state. While the range of its hostplant is quite extensive, this swallowtail restricts itself to rugged country, with females prefering to lay eggs on plants on or atop steep hills or cliffs. In doing so it has utilized some manmade habitats such as canal banks and road cuts. Steep banks of the Tri-county canal system from North Platte to Gallagher Canyon and Elwood Reservoir (Lincoln, Dawson and Gosper Counties) harbor populations of P. m. bairdii. In the not to distant past this butterfly was considered to be a distinct species (P. bairdii form “brucei”), but has recently been included in the “machaon” complex. |
| Similar Species: Anise Swallowtail |
