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Spicebush Swallowtail
	Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
Conservation status
	Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia;
Phylum:	Arthropoda;
Class:	Insecta;
Order:	Lepidoptera;
Family:	Papilionidae;
Subfamily:	Papilioninae;
Tribe:	Papilionini;
Genus:	Papilio;
Species:	P. troilus;
Binomial name
	Papilio troilus; Linnaeus, 1775

The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is a fairly black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It is the state butterfly of Mississippi.

[edit] Description

Adults can be identified by their spoon-shaped tails and by their bright green (male) or iridescent blue (female) hind-wings. Ivory spots may be visible on the forewings, and orange spots may appear on the hindwings. Wingspan may be 3 to 4 inches.

Spicebush Swallowtail, Papilio troilus

[edit] Range

The Spicebush Swallowtail is found only in the Eastern US and extreme southern Ontario, with occasional strays in the American Midwest and even Cuba.

[edit] Habitat

This primarily black swallowtail is normally found in deciduous woods or woody swamps, where they can be found flying low and fast through shaded areas.

[edit] Life cycle

Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar

The caterpillars live in folded leaf shelters and eat the leaves of the sassafras or spicebush. Adults consume a variety of nectars, including those from azalea, Japanese honeysuckle, milkweed, and thistle flowers.

Both sexes are thought to be edible mimics of the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail.

[edit] In popular culture

The caterpillar of this butterfly was made popular by Caterpie from Pokémon. Also, Sloan, a character in the anime "Medabots," once dressed up as the caterpillar of this butterfly during a fancy dress party.

[edit] External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Papilio (Pterourus) troilus