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 409 - 432 of 9870 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Marquy275
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: MichelleCossey
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: DJ Jones
Region: Manistee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: Botanophilia
Region: Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: dtibbetts@live.com
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia Mann 7
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: Stacey D
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: Stacey D
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: sedges
Region: Georgia, Stephens County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: Winston905
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: Don Marotte
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 24, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: jhauser42
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: joep01
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: CaraLundquist
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: JANA C JEAN
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
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