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 145 - 168 of 7814 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 23, 2016
Submitted by: mc2055
Region: United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2016
Submitted by: bsp2905
Region: United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Staci Gibson
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Maury County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Nov 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: Scott Flamand
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: Scott Flamand
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2022
Submitted by: Ryan84
Region: Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: elkeno
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: Homer E
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: TLE613
Region: Woodford County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 30, 2022
Submitted by: jpg15109
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: Kathryn165
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: lantana
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
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