Diet
The black swallowtail caterpillar feeds on many different plants in the
Apiaceae, or carrot family, including Queen Anne's lace, celery, parsley, carrots, dill, and parsnip. The butterfly eats nectar from a variety of plants including clover, milkweed, thistles, and phlox.
Lifecycle
The black swallowtail has two generations a year. The first group of butterflies emerges between late April and early June after having overwintered in the chrysalis. They mate and then the females lays small white eggs on the underside and tops of plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 3-5 days. The caterpillar that emerge are black with a white band around its middle. As it grows, it develops reddish orange spikes on its body. Later, the white band disappears and the caterpillar develops green and black bands with yellow spots. It pupates for 9-11 days, unless it is in the generation that overwinters. The second group of butterflies emerges in the late summer. The second generation mates, and their eggs become the first generation the next spring!
)
The black swallowtail's range stretches from southern Canada to northern Mexico. It is
found in most of the eastern United States as well as parts of the western United States including California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. The black swallowtail is found throughout New Hampshire. )
)