Hobbies And Interests
Identification
The black swallowtail butterfly has a mostly black upper wing, with a total span of 2 1/2 to 4 inches wide. The female can be distinguished by large blue patches on the hindwing, where the male has a broken yellow band. The caterpillars, which hatch from yellow eggs, are up to 2 inches long and white to pale green with black bands and yellow or orange spots.
Habitat
Black swallowtails prefer open areas, such as gardens and fields. They can be attracted to gardens by planting some of their favorite host plants.
Range
The eastern black swallowtail can be found throughout eastern North America and the southwestern United States south to the northern part of South America.
Nectar Plants
Black swallowtails feed on nectar from such flowers as red clover, thistle, phlox and milkweed.
Host Plants
Black swallowtails search out plants in the carrot and rue families to serve as hosts for their caterpillars. In gardens, they are attracted to dill, carrot, fennel, rue and parsley. In the wild, they search out Queen Anne's lace and lovage.