The black swallowtail’s range stretches from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It is found in most of the eastern United States as well as parts of the western United States including California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. The black swallowtail is found throughout New Hampshire.
swallowtail butterfly
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Copy Citation
Share
Share
Share to social media
Give Feedback
External Websites
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – PubMed Central – Swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) species diversity and distribution in Africa
Print Cite
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Copy Citation
Share
Share
Share to social media
Feedback
External Websites
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – PubMed Central – Swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) species diversity and distribution in Africa
Also known as: Papilioninae
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica’s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: Article History
Table of Contents
swallowtail butterfly
Category: Animals & Nature
swallowtail butterfly, (subfamily Papilioninae), any of a group of butterflies in the family Papilionidae (order Lepidoptera). The swallowtail butterflies (Papilio) are found worldwide except in the Arctic. They are named for the characteristic tail-like extensions of the hindwings, although many species are tailless. Colour patterns may vary, although many species have yellow, orange, red, green, or blue markings on an iridescent black, blue, or green background. Sexual and seasonal differences in coloration also occur. Many swallowtails mimic the coloration and patterns of butterflies that are protected by a bad taste.
The brightly coloured larvae feed on foliage. Black and yellow eyelike spots on the thorax of some larvae resemble the head of a snake. Many larvae have colour patterns that make them appear to be bird droppings. Many have scent glands and discharge a bad-smelling substance when disturbed.
Size and Family
- Family: Swallowtails
- Size: Large
- Wing Span Range (male to female): 80-90mm
- Butterfly Conservation priority: Medium
- Fully Protected in Great Britain under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act
- European status: Not threatened
Caterpillar Foodplant
The native British race feeds solely on Milk-parsley (Peucedanum palustre). Occasional migrants of the continental race gorganus use a variety of umbellifers such as Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris).
Habitat
The British race britannicus breeds only in open fens and marshes that support vigorous growths of Milk-parsley. The butterfly prefers areas of mixed fen usually dominated by sedge, or sometimes reed, which are cut periodically and contain tall, prominent foodplants. The occasional migrants of gorganus can be found in almost any habitat but are most frequently seen on grassland near the south coast of England.
- Countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
- The native UK populations are rare but stable and restricted to the Norfolk Broads.
- Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = -56%
Habitat
The black swallowtail caterpillar feeds on many different plants in the Apiaceae, or carrot family, including Queen Anne’s lace, celery, parsley, carrots, dill, and parsnip. The butterfly eats nectar from a variety of plants including clover, milkweed, thistles, and phlox.
The black swallowtail has two generations a year. The first group of butterflies emerges between late April and early June after having overwintered in the chrysalis. They mate and then the females lay small white eggs on the underside and tops of plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 3-5 days. The caterpillar that emerges is black with a white band around its middle. As it grows, it develops reddish orange spikes on its body. Later, the white band disappears and the caterpillar develops green and black bands with yellow spots. It pupates for 9-11 days, unless it is in the generation that overwinters. The second group of butterflies emerges in the late summer. The second generation mates, and their eggs become the first generation the next spring!
Explore the Natural World – Local & National PBS Video
- Saving New England Fisheries
- Plight of the Grassland Birds
- NatureWorks
- Wildlife Journal
- Wildlife Journal Jr.
- Windows to the Wild
- Up Close & Natural
- Big Blue Live
- Deep Look
- Gorongosa Park
- Nature
- NOVA
- Saving the Ocean
- SuperNature: Wild Fliers
- LightHawk: Destination Conservation
- E.O. Wilson – Of Ants and Men
- Earth’s Natural Wonders
- Eons
- Life on the Reef
- Your Inner Fish
© 2023 New Hampshire PBS
Durham, NH 03824 (603) 868-1100
[email protected]
