font settings and languages

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia
Languages:

Papilio polyxenes

(Black Swallowtail, Eastern Black Swallowtail, Parsley Worm, Parsnip Swallowtail, Snow's Skipper)

Interesting Facts

[ Back to top ]

Common Names

[ Back to top ]

Common Names in English:

Black Swallowtail, Eastern Black Swallowtail, Parsley Worm, Parsnip Swallowtail, Snow's Skipper

Description

[ Back to top ]

Family Papilionidae

The Papilionidae belong to the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Swallowtails are worldwide in distribution and comprise approximately 560 species. They are richest in the tropics, and their brilliant colors make them favorites of butterfly enthusiasts. Many swallowtail species, especially in the tropics, mimic other butterflies that are distasteful, while others are distasteful and cause birds and other vertebrate predators to regurgitate. Swallowtail adults are medium to large and may or may not have tails, while parnassian adults are medium, tailless, and have translucent wings. All adult parnassians and swallowtails have three pairs of walking legs , and adults of all species visit flowers for nectar.

Subfamily Papilioninae

Swallowtails are members of the Family Papilionidae. They comprise about 560 species, have a worldwide distribution, and are richest in the tropics. Many are brilliantly colored and are favorites of butterfly enthusiasts. Many species, especially those in the tropics, mimic other butterflies that are distasteful, while others are distasteful and cause birds and other vertebrate predators to regurgitate. Adults are medium to large, may or may not have tails, and have three pairs of walking legs . Adults of all species visit flowers for nectar. Males of most species patrol for mates, while males of one group (Black, Old World, Anise, and Indra Swallowtails) perch on hilltops or ridges instead of patrolling. Swallowtails lay globular eggs and overwinter as pupae. Some species spend more than one year in the pupal stage, likely to survive drought years when little caterpillar food is available. In arid areas, the Black, Anise, and Indra Swallowtails often display this strategy.

Habitat

Meadows, fields , farmland, gardens and watersides . Seldom found in woods or forests .

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 462 meters (0 to 1,516 feet).Mean = 170.390 meters (559.022 feet), Standard Deviation = 86.940 based on 469 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biology

[ Back to top ]

Reproduction

Eggs are yellow. Caterpillars range up to 2" long, white to green with black bands on each segment, with yellow or orange spots. Host plants include Queen Anne's Lace and other members of the carrot family as well as some members of the citrus family. 2 or 3 broods; February - November in south.

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Papilio polyxenes americus

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Häuser C. , 06-Oct-2006

Similar Species

[ Back to top ]

Members of the genus Papilio

There are approximately 2181 species in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

P. abbreviatus · P. abderus · P. abdulazizia · P. abrisa · P. abstrusus · P. abyssinica · P. abyssinicus · P. acamas · P. acanthus · P. acene · P. acenides · P. acenoides · P. achates · P. achatiades · P. acheron · P. acodes · P. acraeomimas · P. adaea · P. adamantius · P. adaperta · P. addenda · P. additionis · P. adla · P. adrastus · P. adriatica · P. adventus · P. aegates · P. aegatinus · P. aegeus · P. aegeus aegeus · P. aegeus f.amanga · P. aegeus oberon · P. aegeus oritas · P. aegeus ormenus · P. aegeus websteri · P. aegialus · P. aegus (Citrus Swallowtail) · P. aelyus · P. aenigma · P. aestivalis · P. aestivoides · P. aestivus · P. aethiops · P. afer · P. agasophus · P. agayana · P. agestor agestor · P. agestorides · P. aglaja · P. agordus · P. aguiari · P. ahasverus · P. aikeni · P. akames · P. akechia · P. akechiana · P. akinous · P. alameitu · P. alarich · P. albanus · P. albator · P. alberici · P. albescens · P. albicans · P. albinus · P. albinus albinus · P. albinus lesches · P. albofurculatus · P. albolineatus · P. albolunata · P. albomaculata · P. albosignata · P. albostriatus · P. alboventris · P. alcanor · P. alcidinus · P. alcindor · P. alcmenor · P. alexanor · P. alexanor maccabaeus · P. alexanor orientalis · P. alglus · P. aliaska · P. alidae · P. aliena · P. alinderi · P. alliacmon · P. alluaudi · P. almana · P. alorensis · P. alpheios · P. alphenor · P. alpherakyi · P. alpica · P. altheae · P. alticola · P. alunata · P. amalthion · P. amanga · P. amaranta

More Info

[ Back to top ]

Notes

[ Back to top ]

Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 03, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

Last Revised: 2008-08-20