Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)

Common in the NC coastal plain and sandhills, this species flies from spring into fall. The caterpillar host plant is Redbay (Persea borbonia), which may become threatened in NC by an invasive fungus-carrying beetle which is killing Redbay from SC down to northern FL.

Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)

Croatan National Forest, Craven Co., NC
27 Aug 2006

Note yellow and black striped body separates this species from all other swallowtails in North Carolina.


Nectaring on Lantana New Hanover Co., NC 28 Aug 2004	Nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Washington Co., NC 19 June 2004


Nectaring on Rhododendron atlanticum Holly Shelter Gamelands Pender Co., NC 24 April 2004

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

Created on ... April 25, 2004; Updated ... August 31, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu