Palamedes Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes Drury, 1773
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of hind- and forewings with postmedian yellow bands; tails are filled with yellow. Lower surface of hindwing with thin yellow basal stripe and postmedian band of yellow-orange crescents.
Wing Span: 4 1/2 - 5 1/8 inches (11.4 - 13 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: Two flights, March-December in North; partial 3rd flight in South.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants of the Laurel family (Lauraceae) especially redbay (Persea borbonia).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of sweet pepperbush, thistles, blue flag, and azalea.
Habitat: Wet woods near rivers and broadleaf evergreen swamp forests.
Range: Along Atlantic coast from southern New Jersey (rare) to Florida; west and south along Gulf Coast to central Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
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 1 - 24 of 1496 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_4267.jpeg?itok=RLhCaVWX)
Observation date: Aug 17, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
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Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8887.jpeg?itok=Zry8zESt)
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Robeson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ad_2022-08-15_7858-2.jpg?itok=TxTdQElm)
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palamedespaleawma52024_0.jpg?itok=fj01jvaY)
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: neflodonata
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0027-denoiseai-standard.jpg?itok=FcxrIHxm)
Observation date: Sep 15, 2023
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 17, 2024
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Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Hardin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
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Observation date: May 09, 2021
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palamedes_st_5_c.jpg?itok=S9KLoLlJ)
Observation date: Mar 18, 2024
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 21, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/3_palamedes_swallowtail_papilio_palamedes_c_silver_bluff_aiken_county_inat_040211.jpg?itok=1lt6Ns3E)
Observation date: Apr 02, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 14, 2024
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Observation date: Mar 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1394_7.jpg?itok=intk8yH6)
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn2858.jpeg?itok=8J1BMwUv)
Observation date: Sep 14, 2023
Submitted by: Brendavent
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pa._swallowtail.jpg?itok=DNV6VqUA)
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: SandraWilliams
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 23, 2023
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/palamedes_sw_dsc04730.jpg?itok=WMIt2xXr)
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/36_palamedes_swallowtail_sg_sk_5-20-23.jpg?itok=4mZIvNZc)
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/36_palamedes_swallowtail_.jpg?itok=Mg8J8Ssu)
Observation date: Aug 30, 2007
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2023
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Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: Carol51
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: lizmcd
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/screenshot_20230411_214758_inaturalist.jpg?itok=Mw5Xlee7)
Observation date: Apr 10, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 12, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 26, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 26, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3919_0.jpeg?itok=hOsYAa8e)
Observation date: Mar 05, 2023
Submitted by: theaquaholic
Region: Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_y1a9043_swallowtails_aransas.jpg?itok=0tL419K-)
Observation date: Mar 23, 2022
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 30, 2023
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