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 1 - 24 of 9741 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: see_me1st
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: Fayla
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: Rjromano
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: emmylu12
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: Mike L
Region: Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 14, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2024
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Sandusky County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 12, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: TientsinMama
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 03, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2024
Submitted by: amyhockemeyer
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 27, 2024
Observation date: Sep 17, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: slmenold
Region: Tazewell County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 21, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: Bombyx-Aurelia
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Apr 06, 2023
Submitted by: godibec
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 04, 2024
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 01, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2024
Submitted by: Rogue Angel
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: csyoder3
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
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