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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 1135 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: Jody Ainley
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: Vinita Fernandes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: RickTheBugMan
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: dharlette
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: bristolmpu
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: pnesterenko
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2022
Submitted by: mashoop58
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
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