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Papilio troilus Linnaeus, 1758
Spicebush Swallowtail
Synonym(s): Pterourus troilus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Florida native
Typically found in flatwoods and hammocks as well as swampy ares throughout Florida, but less common in the southern peninsula. The range includes the eastern United States west into Texas to Michigan. Also found in southern Ontario.
Spicebush swallowtails are primarily dark and somewhat similar-looking to pipevine and black swallowtails. Spicebush swallowtails have a row of small light spots along the sides of the body and the upperside of the forewings have a single row of pale ivory to yellowish spots near the trailing edge. The shading on the upperside of the hindwings tends to be greenish or greenish-blue in males and bluish on females. There is an orange spot near the base of each of the hindwings that in females turns greenish-white in summer. Both sexes have light thin crescents in the scallops of the wing margins.
The larvae grow up to 5.6cm (2-1/4 in.) in length, with hte last 2 instars mostly green above and pinkish-brown underneath with the colors separated by a broad pale yellow band. A thin black band above this in the front looks like a little mustache. The thorax appears swollen and sports two large eyespots, light with a black 'pupil' towards the outside. Behind these on the first abdominal segment are a pair of pale orange spots with a black margin and each with a pale blue spot within. There are rows of small blue spots along the abdomen. The first three instars are grayish-brown and white and resemble bird droppings.
Spicebush butterflies use members of the Laurel family of shrubs and trees exclusively as host plants.
Papilio troilus is a member of the Papilionidae - Swallowtails family.
Other species of the Papilio genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Papilio cresphontes - GIANT SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio glaucus var. maynardi - FLORIDA TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio glaucus - EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio palamedes - PALAMEDES SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio polyxenes var. asterius - BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species
Date record last modified: Jul 05, 2024
