Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly On Echinacea
This is a male. Isn't he pretty?
It has been known by a variety of other names including black swallowtail, American swallowtail, parsnip swallowtail, parsley swallowtail, & Papilio polyxenes asterius. Black swallowtail caterpillars utilize a variety of herbs in the carrot family (Apiaceae) as host plants.
Black
Swallowtail Butterfly On Zinnias. (Papilio polyxenes) Also known as
American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail. This is a male. Its
caterpillar is called the parsley worm because the caterpillar
feeds on parsley. They also host on dill, fennel, Queen Anne’s lace, and common rue.
Black Swallowtail Butterfly On Marigolds
Female, Papilio polyxenes. Or it might be a Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio troilus. I've never seen one with such thin translucent wings before. In many cultures, it is believed the black butterfly is a symbol of transition, renewal or rebirth.
Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly On Lilacs Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar On Parsley