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Caterpillar (top view) The larva, a caterpillar, is completely covered in long, hairlike setae arranged in spreading tufts. Most are white, but there are black tufts along the middle of the back, and four long black hair pencils, two near the front, and two near the back. There are black spots along the sides, and the head capsule is black.
The female has two forms: yellow and black. [6] Both the yellow and black forms have a slight blue tint on the topside of the hindwings that is significantly reduced from the stronger blue tint on those of the tiger swallowtails. [6] On the topside of the hindwing, there is a large orange spot. [6] Their wingspan is 86–115 mm (3.4–4.5 in). [6]
Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, [4] is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio machaon, rather than P. polyxenes.
There is an orange speck at the base. Two pink and black lunules run towards the inner margin. Orbicular is yellow with a ring mark. Reniform yellowish. Large orange blotches are found at the apex and outer angle. Hindwings fuscous. [4] The caterpillar is smooth and purple black. Series of white spots on dorsal, lateral, and sublateral areas.
Young caterpillars are black with lighter colored transverse stripes. Older larvae have two color forms. The more common form is green with yellow and white transverse stripes; the rarer form is black and banded with white and orange. In both forms, between the swollen thorax and the abdomen, there is a yellow, black, and bluish-white band.
They have two eye-shaped spots on the upper thorax, which may help frighten predators. Like most swallowtails, they have a red wishbone-shaped organ called the osmeterium, which pops out from behind the head and releases a foul odour to warn off predators. Caterpillars turn brown just before the fifth moult. The pupa is brown and looks like a ...
The wings are yellow with black stripes and blue and orange spots near their tail, their have the "tails" on the hindwings that are often found in swallowtails. Young caterpillars resemble bird droppings, and as they molt, they eventually turn bright green, with a pair of large yellow eyespots with black and blue pupils.
The wings are black with a horizontal yellow line across the forewings, and a diagonal yellow line across the hindwing. The underside of the wings is yellow with accents of black. A small patch of red on the ventral wing (within the small blue band) allows for distinction from the similar-looking Schaus' swallowtail. [4] Seitz -"P. cresphontes Cr.