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.

Durham Co., NC
9 Sep 2005

		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.
Male Okeechobee Co., FL 12 Aug 2003	Female Okeechobee Co., FL 12 Aug 2003

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) female

Carteret Co., NC
12 Apr 2006


Female New Hanover Co., NC 27 Aug 2005	Female Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2005

	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
	Durham Co., NC 16 Sep 2005
	Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006
	Black Swallowtail egg on bronze fennel Durham Co., NC 30 Sep 2007

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... November 30, 2003 | Updated on ... April 12, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu