Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society

Return to Main Page

Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius)
f. "pseudoamericus"  

MALE (DORSAL)

FEMALE (DORSAL)

FEMALE (VENTRAL)

 

Caterpillar HostplantsDill (Anethum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), celery (Apium), carrot (Daucus), Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), Prairie-parsley (Polytaenia nuttallii), Water-Parsnip (Berula erecta), Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata), Wild Chervil (Cryptotaenia canadensis), Leaf-Less Cowbane (Oxypolis filiformis), Mock Bishop's Weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum), Water- Parsnip (Sium suave), Forked Scaleseed (Spermolepis divaricata) and other members of the family Apiaceae. Rue (Ruta graveolens) and Dutchman's-Breeches (Thamnosma texanum) in the family Rutaceae are utilized.
Area Sighting
Locations
Commonly found in open meadows where its larval host plants are plentiful, this species is also a frequent visitor to the backyard garden.
Seasonal Flight DataEarly March - October
General NotesA sexually dimorphic species, both male and females have black wings with a row of yellow spots along the margins, far more pronounced in the male. The hindwing has a submarginal band of blue which is much more extensive in the female. Similar species: Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), which it is believed to mimic, dark form female Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).

Additional Photographs

OVA

LARVA

PUPA

ADULT


Return to the Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society homepage

Email Dale Clark