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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 9837 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2025
Submitted by: leskokid
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: kykrystal
Region: Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 01, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Fosterro
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 07, 2025
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 27, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: ValerieCan
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: vsantiagoam
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: May 16, 1995
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 11, 2025
Observation date: May 22, 1995
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 11, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: mywingedphotos
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 29, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2025
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 410
- next ›