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 73 - 96 of 9741 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: Kristylardomita
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 11, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: AlienGarden
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Ejordan9611
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Ejordan9611
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Wood
Region: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2024
Submitted by: DBindas
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 30, 2024
Observation date: May 28, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 28, 2024
Observation date: May 28, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 28, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2023
Submitted by: breadbee
Region: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: larryheine@gmail.com
Region: Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 15, 2024
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2024
Observation date: May 10, 2024
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 15, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2024
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 15, 2024
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