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 385 - 408 of 9870 verified sightings
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, York County, United States
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
Observation date: Sep 27, 2022
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 29, 2022
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2022
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 26, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2022
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2022
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: May 14, 2022
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tater Salad
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: Tater Salad
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2015
Submitted by: ArturoCruz
Region: Coahuila De Zaragoza, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: Lapcohen
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: ecgreeneyes
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Bogfinder
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Bogfinder
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: Midway Station
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
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