Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of forewing is mostly black with ivory spots along margin. Upper surface of hindwing has orange spot on costal margin and sheen of bluish (female) or bluish-green (male) scales. Underside of hindwing with pale green marginal spots.
Wing Span: 3 - 4 inches (7.5 - 10 cm).
Life History: Males patrol in woods, roads and woodland edges to find receptive females. Females lay single eggs on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars live in shelters of folded-over leaves and come out to feed at night. Some chrysalids from each generation hibernate.
Flight: 2 generations per year from April-October. In Florida, several generations between March-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), sassafras trees (Sassafras albidum); perhaps prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), and redbay (Persea borbonia).
Adult Food: Nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, jewelweed, thistles, milkweed, azalea, dogbane, lantana, mimosa, and sweet pepperbush.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, fields, roadsides, yards, pine barrens, wooded swamps, and parks.
Range: Eastern states from southern Canada to Florida; west to Oklahoma and central Texas. Occasionally strays to North Dakota, central Colorado, and Cuba.
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 121 - 144 of 7814 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: xBISsped6
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Linda Beaver
Region: Franklin County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: laud731
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 14, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Menifee County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: kbg
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 04, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 26, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 24, 2023
Observation date: May 21, 2023
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: Apr 11, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: Birderbobt51
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 25, 2023
Observation date: Apr 13, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 14, 2023
Observation date: Mar 07, 2023
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: mabfrazer
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Feb 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: Gourmetnsb
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Feb 05, 2023
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: cclifton
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2023
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