The Spicebush Swallowtail is a medium to large butterfly found in various parts of North America. It gets its name from the spicebush plant, one of its primary host plants. This butterfly is typically black with broad hindwings bordered by pale greenish spots. Males have a distinctive blue-green band across the hindwings, while females show a softer blue shading in the same area.
Female
“Spicebush Swallowtail” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Male
“Spicebush Swallowtail” by Rodney Campbell, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)
Spicebush Swallowtail Facts
Butterfly Family: Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)
Butterfly Subfamily: Papilioninae
Butterfly Wingspan: 3 – 4 inches
Butterfly Habitat: Deciduous woodlands, fields, roadsides, yards, pine barrens, wooded swamps, and parks
🪴 Host Plants
These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:
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Redbay (Persea borbonia)
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Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
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Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
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Swampbay (Persea palustris)
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Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
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Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
🌸 Nectar Plants
Adult Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of native flowers:
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Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
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Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
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Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
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Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)
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Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
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Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
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Phlox (Phlox paniculata or P. divaricata)
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Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
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Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
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Thistle (Cirsium discolor)
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Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)