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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 313 - 336 of 9870 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: Stephen Craig
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: LoveButterfly195
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: Gary Mitchell
Region: York County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: accessnancy
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 31, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2023
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: Katelbr
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: May 15, 2023
Submitted by: inthelikeness
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: May 19, 2023
Submitted by: davek
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 06, 2023
Submitted by: Barometz
Region: Boone County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 21, 2023
Observation date: May 19, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 21, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: pkmcp
Region: Brown County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 18, 2023
Observation date: May 15, 2023
Submitted by: hclancy
Region: Bronx County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 17, 2023
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2023
Observation date: Feb 25, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 14, 2023
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