(Eastern) Black Swallowtail

Description:

The (eastern) black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also called the American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail,[1] is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio machaon, rather than P. polyxenes. The species is named after the figure in Greek mythology, Polyxena (pron.: /pəˈlɪksɨnə/; Greek: Πολυξένη), who was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy. The Papilio polyxenes demonstrates polyandry and a lek mating system, showing no male parental care and display sites. Females are therefore able to choose males based on these sites and males are the only resource the females find at these sites.[2]

Habitat:

Papilio polyxenes are found from Southern Canada through to South America. In North America they are more common east of the Rocky Mountains.[4][5] They are usually found in open areas like fields, parks, marshes or deserts, and they prefer tropical or temperate habitats.[6]

Notes:

Papilio polyxenes utlize a variety of herbs in the carrot family (Apiaceae), but will choose the food plants for their larvae based on visual and chemical variations.[16] Host plant odor is one of the cues involved in the selection of landing sites for oviposition.[17] The responses to these cues are innate, and feeding on a host plant as a larva does not increase the preference for that plant as an adult.[18]