Papilionidae : Papilioninae
Papilio polyxenes Fabricius, 1775
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes Fabricius, 1775
Black Swallowtail
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 86-110mm. Sexes similar but females have reduced yellow spots on both upperwings. Care needs to be taken to separate from Poey's Swallowtail H. caiguanabus but this has just a single row of yellow spots across the forewing. Oviedo's Swallowtail Heraclides oviedo looks much yellower in flight and Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas has just one row of spots across the wings not two.
Range: Found throughout North America (subspecies asterius) south to El Salvador, and also on Cuba where the subspecies polyxenes is endemic.
Status: It is at best very rare in Cuba and the latest Field Guide (2020) considers that it is extinct. The most recent reports come from the coast near Habana and were shown to be of the North American subspecies asterius. It should be borne in mind however that there are very few people looking at butterflies in Cuba and until 2021 there has not even been a readily available Field Guide to which people could refer so it is perhaps a little premature to give up hope, especially as the crop growing areas south-west of Habana are very rarely visited by local or visiting entomologists.
Nectar Plants: Unknown on Cuba.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae feed on some garden crops and herbs such as parsnips, carrots and parsley (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae) and can be a pest.
Range: Found throughout North America (subspecies asterius) south to El Salvador, and also on Cuba where the subspecies polyxenes is endemic.
Status: It is at best very rare in Cuba and the latest Field Guide (2020) considers that it is extinct. The most recent reports come from the coast near Habana and were shown to be of the North American subspecies asterius. It should be borne in mind however that there are very few people looking at butterflies in Cuba and until 2021 there has not even been a readily available Field Guide to which people could refer so it is perhaps a little premature to give up hope, especially as the crop growing areas south-west of Habana are very rarely visited by local or visiting entomologists.
Nectar Plants: Unknown on Cuba.
Larval Foodplants: Larvae feed on some garden crops and herbs such as parsnips, carrots and parsley (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae) and can be a pest.
Foodplants and Habitat
