Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson
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Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes
Least Concern

Fascinating facts about the Black Swallowtail

At a glance

Range<i><b>Papilio polyxenes</b></i>, the <b>black swallowtail</b>, <b>American swallowtail</b> or <b>parsnip swallowtail</b>, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America.
HabitatOpen fields
DietCarrot and parsley

About the Black Swallowtail

As the black swallowtail dances through the sun-drenched meadows, its iridescent wings beat with a hypnotic rhythm, casting a mesmerizing spell on all who witness its ethereal flight. With delicate precision, it alights upon the tender shoots of its host plants, uncoiling its proboscis to sip the sweet nectar that fuels its nomadic existence. In a whirl of dark beauty, this majestic butterfly weaves its way through the landscape, a living embodiment of the wild and untamed spirit that thrives in the uncharted corners of our world.

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