Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
Papilionidae
The reason your dill and fennel disappear every August. Larvae are the striking green-and-black striped caterpillars with orange spots that any gardener will eventually meet. The adults are velvet-black with two rows of yellow spots and iridescent blue near the hind wings.
How to spot one.
3-inch wingspan
Black wings with two bands of yellow spots (males) or blue iridescence (females)
Long tails — swallowtail signature
Red spot with black pupil on hind wing
How it lives.
Two to three broods per year. Females lay individual eggs on umbelliferous plants — carrot family. Caterpillars go through a striking transformation from black-with-white-saddle (young) to green-black-orange (mature).
The spec sheet.
- Type
- Butterfly
- Active
- April – October
- Native to NJ
- Yes
- Conservation status
- stable
- Family
- Papilionidae
What it needs.
Plants this species visits, feeds on, or depends on. Names in hydrangea link to the plant’s Field Guide entry.
Larval host
Dill, fennel, parsley, carrots
Larval host
Queen Anne's Lace
Larval host
Nectar source
Nectar source
Xerces Society · NJ Butterflies · Rutgers NJAES
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