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 49 - 72 of 9840 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: beverlynantz
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Holt County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: May 06, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2020
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Union County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2024
Submitted by: B Reinsel
Region: Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: Nature.Freak
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 02, 2025
Observation date: Apr 06, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Apr 06, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
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