Minggu, 13 April 2008

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
Swallowtail Family (Papilionidae)
Distribution: North America

Find identification tips, life history information, and distribution maps for the Spicebush Swallowtail from the Butterflies and Moths of North America web site.

Swallowtail - Papilio machaon

Family: Papilionidae.

Flight Time: Feb - October.

Size: 64-100mm

Altitude: 0-3000m



This was taken in at Hickling Broad in Norfolk in the east of England. This is the only area where Swallowtails live in the UK. I was unfortunate to miss a migrating Camberwell beauty, Nymphalis antiopa, just the day before ! The other widespread European swallowtail is the Scarce swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius.

Giant Swallowtail

Scientific name: Papilio cresphontes Cramer
(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Facts: The giant swallowtail is the largest butterfly in North America. It is easily recognized by the conspicuous yellow pattern on a black background. Larvae of the giant swallowtail feed on citrus and are called orange dogs. Caterpillars in the north feed on other plants such as prickly ash