Black Swallowtail butterfly – 5/26/19
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/19
Observation Time: 12:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (The Trustees of Reservations)
Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly
Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes
Comments: The big meadow at Moose Hill Farm was alive with pairs of black swallowtails chasing each other on this glorious spring day. Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus
There is also a good discussion of how to tell the differences among four black butterfly species at: http://louisiananaturalist.blogspot.com/2009/06/four-dark-swallowtails.html
More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America