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 553 - 576 of 9875 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2021
Submitted by: alliemacd37
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: Llosapio
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 19, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: loup
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 22, 2016
Submitted by: Noney007
Region: Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 17, 2022
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: Rachelyl
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2016
Submitted by: wmprokaziuk
Region: Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2016
Submitted by: steele84
Region: Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2016
Submitted by: LeeAnne-flutter
Region: Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2017
Submitted by: a-o
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2019
Submitted by: TRay
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 09, 2019
Submitted by: Marquy275
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: JeanScott
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: JeanScott
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2019
Submitted by: Wendylkr
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2019
Submitted by: Judikay
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2017
Submitted by: Fishergirl
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: ItsBlueB
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2017
Submitted by: Lunchmonkee
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: JC32647
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2017
Submitted by: Jjeffery
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2001
Submitted by: Ilse Gebhard
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: Ryan84
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: Missmarple
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 09, 2022
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