Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon Lucas, 1852
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of hindwing has yellow-orange eyespot near tail with round black center that is not connected to hindwing margin. Anal cell of hindwing is primarily yellow.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 1/2 inches (7 - 9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on hilltops and patrol for receptive females. Female lays eggs singly on host plant leaves and flowers. Young caterpillars eat leaves while older ones eat flowers. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from April-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many species in the parsley family (Apiaceae), and some in the citrus family (Rutaceae).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Bare hills, mountains, gardens, fields, vacant lots, and roadsides.
Range: From British Columbia southeast to North Dakota, south to s. California, Arizona, New Mexico; Baja California; Mexico. A rare stray to central Nebraska and eastern North Dakota.
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: None noted.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 409 - 432 of 1138 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 20, 2014
Submitted by: RexMundi
Region: Lincoln County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 25, 2017
Observation date: May 22, 2017
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2017
Observation date: May 13, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2017
Observation date: May 03, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2017
Observation date: May 04, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2017
Observation date: Apr 30, 2017
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2017
Observation date: Apr 29, 2017
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Gilliam County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2017
Observation date: Apr 15, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 19, 2017
Observation date: Mar 19, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Cruz Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2017
Observation date: Jul 25, 2016
Submitted by: N_Santill
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 15, 2017
Observation date: Mar 07, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2017
Observation date: Sep 15, 2016
Submitted by: A.Y.Liang
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2017
Observation date: May 14, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Dec 26, 2016
Observation date: Oct 20, 2016
Submitted by: joanmed
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 20, 2016
Observation date: Sep 13, 2016
Submitted by: Suzanne Doyle
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 28, 2016
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: drkanne@hotmail.com
Region: Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Jul 07, 2016
Submitted by: Steve a Fowler
Region: Box Butte County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Jul 11, 2016
Submitted by: Okole1808
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 10, 2016
Observation date: Jun 15, 2009
Submitted by: techs
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 08, 2016
Observation date: Sep 01, 2016
Submitted by: Maryw23
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2016
Observation date: Aug 29, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 01, 2016
Observation date: Jul 27, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
Observation date: Aug 04, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
Observation date: Jul 20, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 18, 2016
- ‹ previous
- 18 of 48
- next ›