Black Swallowtail

Here's someone I met last month at Duke Farms, a Black Swallowtail. This is the state butterfly of New Jersey, attaining that status about 5 years ago.

Note that not all NJ butterflies that are black are Black Swallowtails; Spicebush Swallowtails, Pipevine Swallowtails, and some female black morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are common butterflies that are black. Still, the rich black and the bright yellow spots generally give these guys a different look than most of the others.

As caterpillars these guys mostly eat foods in the carrot/parsley family. Some of these plants you can eat (including celery, dill, and fennel), and some plants you can't (the invasive Poison Hemlock and at least some of the native Water Hemlocks). So if one of their caterpillars invites you over for dinner, make sure you ask what they're serving.

May 4, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 128324584, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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