Papilio polyxenes
Scientific NamePapilio polyxenes
FamilyPapilionidae
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, gardens, and roadsides across much of North America.
Conservation StatusLeast Concern (LC)
Description
The Black Swallowtail, also known as the Eastern Black Swallowtail, is a common and widely recognized butterfly native to North America. Adults are predominantly black with two rows of yellow spots on the forewings and hindwings in males, while females have a more prominent blue band on the hindwings. Both sexes feature a distinctive orange spot with a black center near the tail of the hindwing. The caterpillars are green with black bands and yellow spots, known for feeding on plants in the carrot family and possessing an orange osmeterium for defense.
