Black Swallowtail Papilio Pol

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes

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.

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.

Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches (8 - 11 cm).

Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery, fennel 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.



Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 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. 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. Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches (8 - 11 cm). Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery, fennel 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.

Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes

Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes