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CLASSIFICATION
What type of animal am I? I am an invertebrate (an animal without a spine or backbone). I am cold-blooded, so I cannot control my body temperature. I have a stiff covering on the outside of my body called an exoskeleton. I breathe through small holes in my abdomen called spiracles. I have six legs. I have wings.	Scientists use basic traits to group animals into different taxonomic classes.   For a taxonomic classification chart comparing key traits of common backyard wildlife, CLICK HERE!
The Black Swallowtail is an INSECT!

 





















 

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IDENTIFICATION TIPS
ADULT BUTTERFLY
Black Swallowtail Butterfly Wikimedia - Derek Ramsey Click image to enlarge it		Wingspan ranges from 2.5 - 3.5 inches
		Deeply forked tail
		Body is black with rows of white spots
		Orange-red eyespot with a center black “pupil” at innermost bottom point of upper side of wings
Underside of top wing has two rows of pale yellow spots  Underside of lower wing has two rows of orange spots separated by a powder blue color
MALE Rows of yellow spots on upper side of wings are larger and brighter Powdery, shiny blue section between those rows of yellow spots is less noticable	FEMALE Rows of yellow spots on upper side of wings are smaller and duller Powdery, shiny blue section between those rows of yellow spots is more noticable
Black Swallowtail Male Wikimedia - D. Gorden, E. Robertson Click image to enlarge it	Black Swallowtail Female Wikimedia - Kenneth Dwain Harrelson Click image to enlarge it

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Four life Cycle Stages of the Black Swallowtail
1. Egg:			Females lay a single hard-shelled egg at a time on leaves of their host plant (the carrot/parsley family).  They lay 30-50 eggs each day, between 200-440 each season.    A tiny caterpillar (larvae) hatches from its egg 4-9 days later.
2. Larvae  (caterpillar):			The baby caterpillar spends 10-30 days eating its host plant and growing.  When it becomes too large for its skin, it molts (sheds its skin). The intervals between molts are called instars.  Watch this super cool video of a Black Swallowtail molting!
3. Pupa:			The caterpillar pupates (transitions from larva to pupa) in a head-up position.  Its skin splits, and the green or brown chrysalis (butterfly pupa enclosed in a protective covering) forms.  Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis (physical change from larvae to adult) in about 9-18 days.
4. Adult:			The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, and then sits and waits while its wings to inflate and dry before it can fly away.
Life Span:			The average life span of the adult butterfly is 10-12 days but can live up to 40 days.

NATURAL Habitat Needs	ADULTS	YOUNG
Food	Feed on nectar from a variety of native wildflowers including red clover, milkweed, phlox, and thistle.	Feed exclusively on host plants in the carrot/ parsley family such as parsley, dill, fennel, lovage, rue (citrus), carrots, celery, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
Water	Hydration is obtained from nectar that is collected using  their long, straw-like mouthparts.  They will also drink from puddles or mud to get salt and other minerals.	Hydration is obtained through leaves and stems of host plant.
Shelter	Black swallowtails can be found in open areas including both upland and wet areas. They can be found in habitats includings weedy fields, pastures, roadsides, woodland edges, marshes, and gardens. They are rarely seen in deep forests.	Eggs are deposited on the tip of the host plant’s leaf. Caterpillars remain on plant until they are ready to undergo metamorphosis (physical change from larva to adult), at which point the chrysalis (butterfly pupa enclosed in a protective covering) hangs under a well-covered area.
Places to Raise Young	Females lay eggs on host plants’ leaves.  Adults do not raise the young, but the plant provides a food source for the caterpillars as soon as they hatch.

BACKYARD Habitat Needs	ADULTS	YOUNG
Food	Provide native nectar producing plants such as red clover, milkweed, phlox, and thistle.	Plant host plants from the carrot/ parsley family such as parsley, dill, fennel, lovage, rue (citrus), carrots, celery, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
Water	Garden with nectar-producing plants. Add puddling stations or a small pond.
Shelter	Garden with nectar-producing plants.
Places to Raise Young	Plant host plants from the carrot/ parsley family such as parsley, dill, fennel, lovage, rue (citrus), carrots, celery, and Queen Anne’s Lace.

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Animal Diversity Web		NH PBS Wildlife Journal Junior
Butterflies and Moths of North America		University of Florida Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Alabama Butterfly Atlas		Encyclopedia Brittannica
Sciencing		Putnam, Patti; Putnam, Milt (1997). North America's Favorite Butterflies.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary		Arizona State University: Ask A Biologist

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