Wild Florida Photo
Nature Photography by Paul Rebmann
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Papilio polyxenes
var. asterius
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
PARSNIP SWALLOWTAIL
Florida native
Black swallowtails can be found in the vicinity of wet prairies, roadside ditches, disturbed sites and urban areas throughout Florida. The range extends from central and eastern Canada, through most of the eastern and central United States, into the southwestern states, through Mexico, Central America and into the northern regions of South America.
Papilio polyxenes asterius is a fairly large black butterfly with tails and predominately yellow markings on the wings. This is one of Florida's smaller swallowtails, having a wingspan of from 6.9 to 8.4cm (2-3/4 to 3-1/3in.). On the upperside of the hindwing females have a blue band between the yellow bands while males may only have a hint of this blue . On the underside of the hindwings both sexes have varying degrees of blue in this area and orange mixed into the yellow bands. The body is black with yellow spots.
Host plants include many herbs in the Apiaceae (carrot) family.
Papilio polyxenes is a member of the Papilionidae - Swallowtails family.
Other species of this genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
View Papilio palamedes - PALAMEDES SWALLOWTAIL
View Papilio glaucus var. australis - FLORIDA TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
View Papilio cresphontes - GIANT SWALLOWTAIL
View Papilio glaucus - EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
View Papilio troilus - SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL
Florida Butterfly Gardening
Marc C. Minno, Maria Minno, Diane Pierce (Illustrator)Although the title may lead you to believe that this is just a book about gardening for butterflies, it is in fact an excellent guide to butterflies in Florida, although the large format precludes its use in the field in most cases.
Purchases made by clicking the image link below help support this website
Both a butterfly identification guide and an illustrated manual for butterfly gardening in Florida, this is the first to cover adult, larval, & pupal stages for over 60 butterfly & moth species with information on the plants utilized by each species. Includes over 400 color photographs, a butterfly checklist, & inquiry-based science activities for teachers.
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
University of Florida, Dept. of Entomology Featured Creatures page for this species
Date record last modified:
Sep 24, 2011