Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1012132

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

Observation date: September 08, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: road kill specimen top and bottom next to a fore wing of a anise top and bottom. found on hwy 78 at tamarisk campground rain on sunday the 7th left puddles on road side that attracted swallowtails. there were so many that it was hard not to hit them, we saw at least two that were fatally injured on road. high 94, sweet bush was the favorite of swallowtails, tiny checkerspot, calif patch, metal mark, yellows cloudless and probably alfalfa, also saw dusk's, blues, dainty sulphur, queens. an explosion of hatching due to monsoons repeatedly hitting borrego area. we saw probably close to a hundred tiny checkerspot on the larger sweet bush shrubs. dozens of swallowtails even saw one all black swallowtail that was not landing on mud. the calif giant skipper is ready to hatch we saw at least one, and several trap silk doors. will post. note several differences of the specimen and a wing of a anise.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: September 08, 2014
Coordinator notes: This is subspecies coloro-Ken Davenport
Checklist region(s): United States, California, San Diego County