females male

Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)

This species can be seen as early as April but has been most common in the late summer and early fall when it can be seen flying low over the field adjacent to the Butterfly Garden. Queen Anne's Lace, Phlox, and Goldenrod are commonly visited by adults. Queen Anne's Lace and other members of the carrot family such as dill, fennel and parsley are known to serve as larval host plants. It can be distinguished from the spicebush, pipevine, and black morph of the tiger swallowtail by the two bands of yellow on the forewing and the red (sometimes yellow) eyespot on the medial edge of the hindwings.

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