Black swallowtail butterfly (larva)

Description:

Adult: a common member of the "blue-and-black" swallowtail complex. Female, with its large blue patches on hindwings, is a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail. Some female Black Swallowtails have little yellow on wings above. Males have more extensive broken yellow band. Note orange and black spot on inner margin of hindwings (Palamedes Swallowtail is otherwise very similar, above, but has no black center in the orange spot). Larva changes color quite dramatically with each molt. Last instar is green with black bands dotted with orange or yellow spots on each segment; pupa has two forms - brown and green. (information from BugGuide)

Habitat:

Suburban flowerbed

Notes:

I specifically plant fennel to attract black swallowtails.