black swallowtail

Uncommon

Two broods: mid-May to mid-June and mid-July to early September

Meadows, fields, suburbs, and other open areas.

Black swallowtail is a mimic of the unpalatable pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor). It has a wingspan of 3¼″ to 4¼″. Females are larger than males.

The upper side of the forewing is black with two rows of yellow spots, one on the submarginal band, one on the median band. Both rows of spots extend to the forward (costal) margin of the wing. There is also a narrow, interrupted, yellow border on the outer margin, and a single yellow spot in the area just below the tip (subapical area). On the male, the medial spots are large and closely spaced. On the female they are narrow and widely spaced.

The upper side of the hindwing is black with a marginal row of yellow spots, a postmedial row of iridescent blue spots, a median row of yellow spots, and a narrow, interrupted, yellow border on the outer margin. There is also a single eye-spot on the trailing margin near the tail. The eyespot is orange with a black pupil and a yellow border. On the male, the blue postmedial spots are small, and the yellow medial spots are large and closely spaced. On the female the blue postmedial spots are large, and the yellow medial spots are narrow and widely spaced. The hindwings have “tails”.

The underside of the forewing is black with yellow markings mirroring those on the upper side. The underside of the hindwing is black with markings mirroring those on the upper side except that many of the yellow spots are partially or completely replaced with orange spots.

The eyes are black.

The mature (fifth instar) caterpillar is variable in color and up to 2″ long. It appears smooth but is actually densely covered with minute hairs. The background color is usually green but may be white, yellow, brown and white, or black (see Comments below). The thorax is swollen and the head is held beneath the thorax. The thorax of the green form caterpillar is green with 2 black stripes in an inverted “V” pattern and 3 black spots. Each abdominal segment is green with a broad, horizontal black band. In each black band there are 6 yellow spots. There is also a narrow black band in the fold between abdominal segments. The legs are greenish-white with 2 black spots.

There is a Y-shaped gland (osmeterium) in the middle of the upper (dorsal) portion of the first abdominal segment of the caterpillar. Normally, the osmeterium is held internally and is not visible. It secretes a chemical that produces a foul odor and repels predators. The secreted chemical may also be toxic to predators. When disturbed, the caterpillar will extend (evert) the gland, turning it inside-out, and attempt to smear the predator with the chemical.

Mature caterpillars are found from June onward.

The pupa may be green or brown. The color varies between individuals of a local population, achieving a balance that ensures maximum survival.

Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) has a black form female that looks similar. However, it has only one row of yellow spots on the upper side of the forewing and there is no yellow subapical spot.

Queen Anne’s lace, wild parsnip, spotted water hemlock, bland sweet cicely, American cow parsnip, and other members of the Apiaceae (carrot) family.

Flower nectar, especially clover.

Mating usually takes place on a hilltop. The female lays small yellow eggs singly on a leaf or flower of a host plant. She will lay 30 to 50 eggs per day, eventually laying 200 to 440 eggs. The larva hatches 4 to 9 days later. Over the next 10 to 30 days it molts 4 times before pupating. It overwinters as a chrysalis.

Caterpillar Color
The background color of the caterpillar is usually green but may be white, yellow, brown and white, or black. The color is determined by the wavelength of light reaching the pupae when it is in the first instar stage. This color polymorphism allows the caterpillar to match the background color of the host site.

State Butterfly
This is the state butterfly of Oklahoma.

Black Swallowtail from 4k video...

Adult

Fifth instar caterpillar

Location: Norman Co.

Location: Minneapolis

A large, healthy-looking caterpillar is hanging out on our parsley on this 36-degree day.

Location: Crystal, MN 

Just found a mature swallowtail  caterpillar happily munching away on my parsley.

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Warroad, MN

I had a black swallowtail in my yard in Warroad, MN for a short time 6/23/19. It was visiting the snow on the mountain flowers. I had never seen one before so it was quite a thrill. (I took photos for documentation and ID confirmation)

Location: Kasson, Dodge County

In the phlox garden

Location: Anoka, Minnesota

loving the cone flowers!!

Location: Park Rapids, MN