The polydamas swallowtail is one of only two United States swallowtails of the genus Battus andis our only eastern United States swallowtail without tails. At least 12 other subspecies occur in areas of southern Texas, throughout the Antilles, and through Central and South America to Argentina.
Occasional strays wander as far north as Missouri and Kentucky.
The wingspread range is 3.9 to 4.8 cm. The upper surface of the wings is black with submarginal yellow bands. The underside of the wings is black with a submarginal row of yellow spots on the front wing and a submarginal row of wavy red lines on the hind wing. The body of the adult is black with red dots dorsally on the anterior part of the thorax and red-orange dots laterally on the thorax and coxae. An orange lateral line runs the length of the abdomen.