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| Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius, 1775 ) |
Click on image above to enlarge
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Family: Parnassians and Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
Subfamily: Swallowtails (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.
Habitat: A variety of open areas including fields, suburbs, marshes, deserts, and roadsides
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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
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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
40004
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