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Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Papilio polyxenes

Photo by James McNair
Published on Project Noah
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28.5364, -81.0176

Field Notes

Description:

Upper surface of wings mostly black; on inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. Male has yellow band near edge of wings; female has row of yellow spots. Female hindwing with iridescent blue band. In the Southwest, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies P. coloro.

Habitat:

Orlando Wetlands. Habitat: A variety of open areas including fields, suburbs, marshes, deserts, and roadsides.

Range: Most of the eastern U.S., north into Quebec, west into s. Saskatchewan, Colorado and se. California; south to n. South America. Subspecies coloro in desert Southwest.

Notes:

Mating.

Species ID Suggestions

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PublishedJune 8, 2014

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