Spicebush Swallowtail

Taxobox


image_caption = Spicebush Swallowtail("Papilio troilus")
status = NE
status_system = IUCN3.1
name = Spicebush Swallowtail
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Papilionidae
subfamilia = Papilioninae
tribus = Papilionini
genus = "Papilio"
species = "P. troilus"
binomial = "Papilio troilus"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1775

The Spicebush Swallowtail ("Papilio troilus") is a fairly black swallowtail found in North America. It is the state butterfly of Mississippi.

Description

Adults can be identified by their spoon-shaped tails and by their bright green (male) or iridescent blue (female) hind-wings. Ivory spots may be visible on the forewings, and orange spots may appear on the hindwings. Wingspan may be 3 to 4 inches.

Range

The Spicebush Swallowtail is found only in the Eastern US and extreme southern Ontario, with occasional strays in the American Midwest and even Cuba.

Habitat

This primarily black swallowtail is normally found in deciduous woods or woody swamps, where they can be found flying low and fast through shaded areas.

Life cycle

. Adults consume a variety of nectars, including those from azalea, Japanese honeysuckle, milkweed, and thistle flowers.

Both sexes are thought to be edible mimics of the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail.

In popular culture

The caterpillar of this butterfly was made popular by Caterpie from Pokémon.Also, Sloan, a character in the anime "Medabots," once dressed up as the caterpillar of this butterfly during a fancy dress party.

External links

* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/2648/bgimage Spicebush Swallowtails at BugGuide.net]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerb/185515413/in/pool-fwd/ Michael Gerber's caterpiller photo]
* [http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1379 Butterflies and Moths of North America from The Big Sky Institute at Montana State University and NBII Mountain Prairie Information Node]
* [http://www.naba.org/images/papilionidae/papilioninae/papilio_troilus/papilio_troilus.html North American Butterfly Association images of adult Spicebush Swallowtails]
* [http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_insects.htm Official state insects from NETSTATE]
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/spicebush_swallowtail.htm spicebush swallowtail] on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site