Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Founds statewide in NC, Black Swallowtails are most often seen in gardens and in open habitats. They seem to be three-brooded, but flight records do not distinguish strong brood patterns, and adults may be seen on the wing in any warm month from March to November.

Uncommon to fairly common in NC, Black Swallowtails use various members of the carrot family for host plants. They are especially easy to attract to home gardens by planting parsley, fennel, or dill.

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Durham Co., NC
9 Sep 2005
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Males show a bright yellow stripe across the middle of both wings and a reduced amount of blue on the hindwing.

Females show a reduced yellow stripe across the middle of the both wings and a much greater amount of blue on the hindwing.
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Male
Okeechobee Co., FL
12 Aug 2003		 Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Female
Okeechobee Co., FL
12 Aug 2003
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Orange Co., NC
30 Mar 2021		 Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Orange Co., NC
30 Mar 2021
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) female
Carteret Co., NC
12 Apr 2006
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) female
Butner Gamelands, Durham Co., NC
7 Aug 2023

Apparently laying an egg in the flowers of Queen Anne's Lace

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Female
New Hanover Co., NC
27 Aug 2005		 Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Female
Durham Co., NC
20 Aug 2005
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Panther NWR, Collier Co., FL
4 Mar 2017
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa
11 July 2018
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa

Female probing Queen Anne's Lace for possible egg-laying.

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
CR 125, Lee Co., TX
21 Mar 2018
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
National Butterfly Center, Hidalgo Co., TX
1 May 2018
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Jones Lake, Bladen Co., NC
2 Oct 2016
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Jones Lake, Bladen Co., NC
2 Oct 2016
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Jones Lake, Bladen Co., NC
2 Oct 2016
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Jones Lake, Bladen Co., NC
2 Oct 2016
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Jones Lake, Bladen Co., NC
2 Oct 2016
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Black Swallowtail caterpillars show varying amounts of black and may (below) or may not (left) have short black spines.

Durham Co., NC
9 Sep 2005
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Durham Co., NC
16 Sep 2005
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Durham Co., NC
5 Aug 2006
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Alamance Co., NC
29 June 2020
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) egg Black Swallowtail egg on bronze fennel
Durham Co., NC
30 Sep 2007

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Created on ... November 30, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com