Eastern Black Swallowtail

Eastern Black Swallowtail captured at the Safety Harbor Marina park in Safety Harbor, FL.

Eastern Black Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes asterius) can be found in open meadows east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to the Gulf, southwest to Arizona from Spring to Fall. The Caterpillar eats foliage of plants in the carrot family, including wild and cultivated carrot, celery, and parsley. This common eastern swallowtail flies low, alighting on clover and cultivated flowers. Its caterpillars are sometimes garden pests.