Black Swallowtail

Taxobox
name = Black Swallowtail

---

status = secure
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Papilionidae
tribus = Papilionini
genus = "Papilio"
species = "P. polyxenes"
binomial = "Papilio polyxenes"
binomial_authority = Fabricius, 1775The Black Swallowtail, "Papilio polyxenes", also called the American or parsnip swallowtail [cite web
last = Castner
first = J.L.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Electronic Data Information Source
work = Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
publisher = University of Florida
date =
url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN032
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-04-18 ] , is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. There is an extremely similar-appearing species, "Papilio joanae" that occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to "Papilio machaon", rather than "polyxenes".

The Black Swallowtail has a wingspan of 3 1/4 inches to 4 1/4 inches (8 to 11 centimeters). The upper surface of the wings is mostly black. On the inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. A male of this species has a yellow band near edge of wings; a female has row of yellow spots. The hindwing of the female has an iridescent blue band.

In the Southwest USA, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies "Papilio polyxenes coloro".

After mating, small, yellow eggs are laid, typically on garden plants from the carrot family, including dill, fennel and parsley.They are also found eating bishop's weed. First instar larvae grow to about 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) long, resemble bird droppings and are dark purple-brown with a white band in the middle and have spikes, with a light brown-orange ring at the base of each of the spikes in the dark region (spikes are white on the white band). Later instars grow to about 5 cm (2 inches) and are yellow-white and black banded with yellow spots around every second black band. They have short, black spikes around some of the black bands, although these tend to disappear as the larva nears pupation. The Black Swallowtail Caterpillar has an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, everts and releases a foul smell to repel predators.

The Black Swallowtail pupae may be green or brown, but not depending on it's surroundings or what it has pupated on. The color of the chrysalis is determined by a local genetic balance which ensures that majority of pupae will blend in.Fact|date=August 2008

Popular culture

In the Japanese anime and manga series "Bleach", black swallowtail butterflies are the product of a ritual that helps the dead rest in peace.Fact|date=August 2008 They also appear in the anime xxxHolic.

Hosts of P. Polyxenes include Parsley, Dill, Fennel, Carrot, Queen-Anne's Lace, Parsnip, and other relatives.

References

* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/butterfly_black_swallowtail.htm Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly: Large format reference quality (free) photographs] Cirrus Digital Imaging
*ITIS|ID=188543|taxon=Papilio polyxenes|year=2006|date=6 February

"This article is adapted in part from [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/usa/895.htm this page] at the USGS [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center] ".

External links

* [http://www.glorious-butterfly.com/black-swallowtail-butterfly.html Black Swallowtail Butterfly]