Short-tailed Swallowtail
Common NameShort-tailed Swallowtail
Scientific NamePapilio brevicauda
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Wingspan (mm)60
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, yellow, blue, orange
HabitatCoastal barrens, bogs, meadows, open woodlands, and forest edges, often near host plants.
Geographic RangeNortheastern North America, including Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, and parts of Maine.
Host PlantsScotch Lovage (Ligusticum scoticum), Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum), Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
Flight PeriodLate June to August
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are green with black bands and yellow spots, possessing an osmeterium for defense. Pupae overwinter, emerging as adults the following summer.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its relatively short tails, the continuous band of yellow spots, and the specific arrangement of blue and orange spots on the hindwings. Its restricted northern range is also a key identifier.
Description
A medium-sized black swallowtail butterfly with a prominent band of yellow spots across both forewings and hindwings. The hindwings feature a row of blue spots and distinct orange eyespots, along with short tails.
