spicebush swallowtail

(Papilio troilus)

Conservation Status
spicebush swallowtail
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N4? - Apparently Secure

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Deciduous woodlands and open areas near woodlands, woodland edges, fields, roadsides, yards, pine barrens, wooded swamps, and parks.

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

Two broods from April to October.

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

In Minnesota only prickly ash.

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, spotted touch-me-not, thistle, milkweed, dogbane, sensitive plant.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 20, 21, 29, 30, 71.

 
  8/17/2020      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Rare stray

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (butterflies)  
 

Family

Papilionidae (swallowtails)  
 

Subfamily

Papilioninae (swallowtails)  
 

Tribe

Papilionini (fluted swallowtails)  
 

Genus

Papilio  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

spicebush swallowtail

 
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
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Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Papilio troilus (Spicebush Swallowtail)
Allen Chartier
  Papilio troilus (Spicebush Swallowtail)  
Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly on native plants
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
  Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly on native plants  
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio Troilus)
TheLoneKnight
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 14, 2012

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
See more pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloneknight/sets/72157601853281547/

Here is the region map they live in and a list of host plants you may find the caterpillars on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_troilus

Look for partially eaten leaves that have folded closed. You can find the caterpillars in those leaves on their host plant. I find mine on a small Camphor tree.

This place sells them here but are restricted to sell only in Florida.
http://www.butterflyworkx.com/spicebush-swallowtail-caterpillars.html

 
  Spicebush caterpillar defense
RoddyAndClark
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 14, 2009

This Spicebush caterpillar, also known as a snake mimic because of the green coloration with large black spots which look like eyes. I tried to prod it to move off the leaf, and it decided to show its other defense: a forked tongue looking appendage.

 
  Spicebush Swallowtail
TheChannelOfAnimals
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 22, 2013

In this video, a spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is shown on the ground by the East River in Guilford. This video was recorded in Guilford, Connecticut on August 4, 2013.

 
  Spicebush Swallowtail Visiting Evening Primrose - June 15, 2013
Don Gagnon
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 16, 2013

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) Gathering Nectar from Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis), Butterfly Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Pottersville, Somerset, Massachusetts, Saturday morning, June 15, 2013, 11:16 PM / 11:19 PM / 11:21 PM / 11:25 PM / 11:26 PM - Canon PowerShot SX50 HS MVI_11337 / MVI_11338 / MVI_11345 / MVI_11352 / MVI_11373 / MVI_11374 / MVI_11375 / MVI_11376; 4:08 min.

 
  Nature Notes Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
SouthCarolinaETV
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 2, 2011

Naturalist Rudy Mancke shows us a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar on a Sassafras leaf.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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  Eric Lovett
7/22/2021

Location: Redwood Falls, MN

It couldn't get enough of the Phlox in our pollinator garden!

 
  Melissa Dunbar
8/15/2020

Location: Dakota County

This beautiful Spicebush swallowtail landed on my yellow zinnia in my garden yesterday

 
  Christine
6/8/2019

Location: Zimmerman, MN

 
  Alicia Williams
7/25/2014

Location: Carver County, Chaska, my yard (open field near woodland)

I found what appeared to be a newly emerged Spicebush Swallowtail; its wings were still unfolding. I was able to take photos and move it to a more safe location.

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

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