Meet the Native Pollinators is a series aimed to provide an introduction to the many wild pollinators found in and around the NYC region. Learn more about the Black Swallowtail Butterfly below.
Latin name
Papilio polyxenes
Size
8-11 cm (wingspan)
Flight season
April-October
Host Plant
plants in the carrot (Apiaceae) family, including Queen Anne’s lace, parsley, carrots, and dill
Habitat
Parks, gardens, fields, meadows, and marshes
Interesting fact
Black Swallowtail Butterflies have a tube-like tongue called a proboscis that they use to sip nectar.
PHOTO by Diana Gruberg