A common swallowtail, the pipevine has been known to fly year round in warmer areas. Here it appears as soon as the Southwestern vervain blooms, often early to mid February, and can be seen feeding on nectar as long as flowers are bloom late into the fall. When in its handsome red caterpillar stage, it feeds on Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia watsonii), a ground hugging vine. Thus its common name, pipevine. From that plant it consumes enough poisonous acids to make it inedible in all its stages to birds and other predators.