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 433 - 456 of 9870 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 08, 2022
Submitted by: JANA C JEAN
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: Godey1861
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Macon County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: MaggieSwe
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: Jasper
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: Sitelle
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: Katana88
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 04, 2022
Submitted by: Chell_Ari
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: BethWayman
Region: Bryan County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: Ronijoy
Region: Nassau County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 31, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: Chell_Ari
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 28, 2022
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