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 481 - 504 of 9871 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Terrie Johnson)
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: ViWatson
Region: Howell County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Knox County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: SchurigFamily
Region: Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Brendavent
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: Bambi E. Friedman
Region: Kings County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Brendavent
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 18, 2022
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022
Observation date: May 29, 2022
Submitted by: Texag
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2008
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 24, 2022
Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: amalyon
Region: Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jun 22, 2022
Observation date: Apr 23, 2022
Submitted by: BennyandJules
Region: Boone County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: ruxerious
Region: Gloucester County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: ewschill
Region:
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2021
Submitted by: Stjoa77
Region: Hampton, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: Stjoa77
Region: Hampton, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Midway Station
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
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