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Papilionidae - Swallowtail Butterflies

black swallowtail

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Arthropoda
 Subphylum: Hexapoda
 Class: Insecta
 Order: Lepidoptera
 Family: Papilionidae

Eastern Tiger SwallowtailThere are around 550 species of butterfly in this family. Most species are large and brightly colored.

Swallowtail butterflies are found on all continents, except Antarctica. Most species are found in warm, tropical climates.

Swallowtail butterflies get their name from the tail-like extension on the hindwings of many species in this family.

Caterpillars in this family have a forked organ on their heads called the osmeterium that emits a foul-smelling odor when the caterpillar is disturbed by a predator.


World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

  New Hampshire Species

 

  North American Species

Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio canadensis
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio glaucus
Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes
Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor
Spicebush Swallowtail - Papilio troilus

  Old World Swallowtail - Papilio machaon
Short-tailed Swallowtail - Papilio brevicauda
Ozark Swallowtail - Papilio joanae
Anise Swallowtail - Papilio zelicaon
Indra Swallowtail - Papilio indra
Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio appalachiensis
Western Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio rutulus
Pale Swallowtail - Papilio eurymedon
Two-tailed Swallowtail - Papilio multicaudata
Three-tailed Swallowtail - Papilio pilumnus
Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes
Magnificent Swallowtail - Pterourus garamas
Magnificent Swallowtail Victorine Swallowtail - Papilio victorinus
Thoas Swallowtail - Papilio thoas
Broad-banded Swallowtail - Papilio astyalus
Ornythion Swallowtail - Papilio ornythion
Schaus' Swallowtail - Papilio aristodemus
Bahaman Swallowtail - Papilio andraemon
Androgeus Swallowtail - Papilio androgeus
Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Papilio anchisiades
Pink-spotted Swallowtail - Papilio rogeri
Torquatus Swallowtail - Heraclides torquatus
Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly - Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus Endangered in US

  North American Species

 

Eversmann's Parnassian - Parnassius eversmanni
Clodius Parnassian - Parnassius clodius
Phoebus Parnassian - Parnassius phoebus
Sierra Nevada Parnassian - Parnassius behrii
Rocky Mountain Parnassian - Parnassius smintheus
Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas
Mylotes Cattle Heart - Parides eurimedes
White-dotted Cattleheart - Parides alopius
Green-celled Cattleheart - Parides childrenae
Montezuma's Cattleheart - Parides montezuma
Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus
Mexican Kite Swallowtail - Eurytides epidaus
Dark Kite Swallowtail - Eurytides philolaus
Variable Swallowtail - Mimoides phaon

 

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio New Hampshire Species NH Species

Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The black swallowtail butterfly feeds on red clover, milkweed, and thistles.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio canadensis profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The Canadian tiger swallowtail caterpillar feeds on leaves of birch, aspen, and black cherry.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio glaucus profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly feeds on nectar of flowers from a variety of plants including wild cherry and lilac.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The giant swallowtail butterfly feeds on nectar from lantana, azalea, bougainvilla, bouncing Bet, dame's rocket, goldenrod, Japanese honeysuckle, and swamp milkweed.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pipevine Swallowtail - Battus philenor profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The pipevine swallowtail butterfly feeds on nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, jewelweed, thistles, milkweed, azalea, dogbane, lantana, mimosa, and sweet pepperbush.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spicebush Swallowtail - Papilio troilus profile Photos New Hampshire Species
The spicebush swallowtail butterfly feeds on nectar from thistles, bergamot, lilac, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, dame's-rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, and lupines.
Source: Butterflies and Moths of North America Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School