Family Papilionidae
Subfamily: Parnassiinae (Parnassians)
Parnassius eversmanni
Eversmann's Parnassian
Parnassius clodius
Clodius Parnassian
Parnassius phoebus
Phoebus Parnassian
Parnassius behrii
Sierra Nevada Parnassian
Parnassius smintheus
Rocky Mountain Parnassian
Subfamily: Papilioninae (Swallowtails)
Parides alopius
White-dotted Cattleheart
Parides montezuma
Montezuma's Cattleheart
Parides eurimedes
Mylotes Cattle Heart
Parides childrenae
Green-celled Cattleheart
Parides panares
Wedge-spotted Cattleheart
Battus philenor
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus polydamas
Polydamas Swallowtail
Eurytides marcellus
Zebra Swallowtail
Eurytides epidaus
Mexican Kite-Swallowtail
Eurytides philolaus
Dark Kite-Swallowtail
Mimoides thymbraeus
White-crescent Swallowtail
Mimoides phaon
Variable Swallowtail
Papilio machaon
Old World Swallowtail
Papilio brevicauda
Short-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio joanae
Ozark Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
Black Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio indra
Indra Swallowtail
Papilio xuthus
Asian Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio appalachiensis
Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio eurymedon
Pale Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio pilumnus
Three-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes
Palamedes Swallowtail
Pterourus garamas
Magnificent Swallowtail
Papilio garamus
Magnificent Swallowtail
Papilio victorinus
Victorine Swallowtail
Papilio thoas
Thoas Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes
Giant Swallowtail
Papilio astyalus
Broad-banded Swallowtail
Papilio ornythion
Ornythion Swallowtail
Papilio aristodemus
Schaus' Swallowtail
Papilio andraemon
Bahaman Swallowtail
Papilio androgeus
Androgeus Swallowtail
Papilio anchisiades
Ruby-spotted Swallowtail
Papilio rogeri
Pink-spotted Swallowtail
Heraclides torquatus
Torquatus Swallowtail
Papilio pelaus
Caribbean Swallowtail
Description
The Papilionidae belong to the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Swallowtails are worldwide in distribution and comprise approximately 560 species. They are richest in the tropics, and their brilliant colors make them favorites of butterfly enthusiasts. Many swallowtail species, especially in the tropics, mimic other butterflies that are distasteful, while others are distasteful and cause birds and other vertebrate predators to regurgitate. Swallowtail adults are medium to large and may or may not have tails, while parnassian adults are medium, tailless, and have translucent wings. All adult parnassians and swallowtails have three pairs of walking legs, and adults of all species visit flowers for nectar.
