Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
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DISTRIBUTION in North Carolina: Statewide; found in all provinces, and presumably occurs in all counties.
ABUNDANCE in North Carolina: Overall, uncommon to fairly common. Somewhat more numerous near the coast than elsewhere, and it may be common locally in some tidewater sites. Despite it being considered a common butterfly in the eastern United States, it is not a common butterfly in North Carolina. Interestingly, caterpillars are often seen on garden plants (in the umbel family), but adults seldom seem to be numerous.
FLIGHT PERIOD in North Carolina: Late March to early October; rarely to early November. There are apparently three broods, but the species seems to have a nearly continuous flight period. In the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, abundance peaks in July and August.
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Distribution, abundance, flight period, and map information provided by Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina.
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) 08/04/06 · Watauga County, NC · male
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) 08/04/06 · Watauga County, NC
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) 07/29/06 · Ashe County, NC · female