Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Butterfly: Wingspan: 2½ - 3½ inches (6.7 - 8.9 cm). Black Swallowtails are large black butterflies with predominant tails. Males have a band of bright yellow spots that crosses the outer part of each upperside wing as well as a row of yellow dots and dashes that border those wings. Females may lack the heavy yellow band or display it only faintly.  Males show some blue on the topside hindwing but females have a wide swath of blue. The underside of both sexes is black with 2 rows of yellow-orange spots across both wings.

ID Tip: Black Swallowtails are often misidentified and confused with other large, dark swallowtails.  Look for the dark body with a double row of creamy yellow dots.  On both upper and under wing surfaces, look for an orange-red eyespot with a center black “pupil.” These are located at corner of the hindwings.

Egg: The round, yellow-green eggs are deposited singly, often on tip of host plant leaf.

Caterpillar: Young caterpillars resemble bird droppings: dark brown with white “saddle.”  Older larvae are bright green with black dashes and yellow dots that form bands on each body segment. This coloration is cryptic: it camouflages them with their environment. However, caterpillar color is variable and some be predominantly black. Osmeteria are yellow-orange. Black Swallowtail caterpillars are sometimes called “Parsley worms.”

Chrysalis: Mottled brown or gray; or green with yellow highlights.  Color depends on season and surface texture. The short day lengths (photoperiods) of fall produce brown pupae.  The chrysalis is the overwintering stage.