Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Papilio polyxenes

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on
large blazingstar. This one was found
on a wet prairie at Maumee
State Forest.

The Black Swallowtail can be found in Northwest Ohio May through August.

It can be found in all 88 counties of Ohio. It likes fields and meadows, woodland edges, and gardens.

Markings

The summer brood females have a larger blue area on the dorsal hind-wing and fewer yellow markings on the dorsal forewing. The spring form of the female has more blue on the dorsal hind-wing than the male

Plants they like

The larvae feed on members of the parsley family and Queen Anne's lace. Adults are attracted to gardens by parsley or carrot plants. They also like nectar plants like phlox and milkweed.

Note: This swallowtail is also known as the Eastern Black Swallowtail.

-- Click on any image for a larger picture --

These two swallowtails were in a dried up
puddle along a dirt road. Like most butterflies
they like to siphon mineral salts from puddles
and dried puddles.

Another side view. This one has lost a portion
of its hind wing. This one and the one
below are on mountain mint.

This is the same black swallowtail. You can
see where a large portion of the hind
wings are gone.

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