National Moth Week is July 18-26!
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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 457 - 480 of 9871 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 27, 2022
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: ocaldeira
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: Midway Station
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2022
Submitted by: MRMorin
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: cwerling43
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: cwerling43
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Harrison County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Katherine B.
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2022
Submitted by: Katherine B.
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Gage County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: Perry McCabe
Region: McPherson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: SuzanneToronto
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 15, 2022
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