Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes Fabricius, 1775
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of wings mostly black; on inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. Male has yellow band near edge of wings; female has row of yellow spots. Female hindwing with iridescent blue band. In the Southwest, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies P. coloro.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches (8 - 11 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol for receptive females. Female lays eggs singly on leaves and flowers of the host, which are then eaten by hatching larvae. Hibernates as a chrysalis.
Flight: One-2 flights from April-October in northern regions of range; 3 flights in southern regions.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill. Sometimes plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) are preferred.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including red clover, milkweed, and thistles.
Habitat: A variety of open areas including fields, suburbs, marshes, deserts, and roadsides.
Range: Most of the eastern U.S., north into Quebec, west into s. Saskatchewan, Colorado and se. California; south to n. South America. Subspecies coloro in desert Southwest.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Maintain open fields in East.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 9506 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Debo
Region: Montgomery County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: Debo
Region: Montgomery County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 22, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Miami County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2022
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: Midway Station
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 06, 2022
Submitted by: kbg
Region: Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Mar 30, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: emma.98
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Oct 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: Lynettesvincent...
Region: Texas, Smith County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Lynettesvincent...
Region: Texas, Smith County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, United States, York County
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 05, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 01, 2022
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