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Spicebush Swallowtail

Papilio troilus

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This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Mobile, Alabama

Vincent, Alabama

Barling, Arkansas

Cabot, Arkansas

Deer, Arkansas

Marion, Arkansas

Jacksonville, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Palm Harbor, Florida

Port Orange, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Brunswick, Georgia

Galva, Illinois

Goshen, Kentucky

Irvine, Kentucky

Denham Springs, Louisiana

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Wiggins, Mississippi

Ozark, Missouri

Hudson, New Hampshire

Marlton, New Jersey

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Concord, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Pinnacle, North Carolina

Bowling Green, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio(3 reports)

Monroe, Ohio

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Pequea, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Crossville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Fulshear, Texas

Houston, Texas

Livingston, Texas

Ruther Glen, Virginia

Liberty, West Virginia

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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themikesmom

Concord, NC | July 2013 | Positive

We have seen this Beautiful Butterfly that looks very similar to the red spotted purple and the blue and black eastern swallowtail; twice this year weve seen it and were wondering what it was called until we came across this DG link today. It is hard to photograph, as the blue on it easily blurs if not completely still. We are honored this Beautiful thing comes to our gardens. Now we know of three different large black and blue butterflies here in NC!

tabasco

Cincinnati (Anderson Twp), OH (Zone 6a) | May 2009 | Positive

In our region of Ohio/Indiana/Ky the Spicebush ST uses both the Spicebush and the Sassafras for oviposting.

We have both plants in our woods (along with some laurels) and around the second week in August we begin to see Spicebush ST regularly visiting our nectar garden. Their first springtime 'flight' occurs around mid-May in Ohio.

iamkaym

Port Orange, FL | August 2008 | Neutral

I am changing my Florida garden to Natives and one of the trees I transplanted this Spring was a young sassafras. In July I noticed that one of the leaves was curled, showing the silvery underside. Carefully, I peeled it open and found a brown caterpillar with large "eye" markings like that of a Spicebush Swallowtail. This was an early stage. In a few days the caterpillar was much larger and had the typical green and yellow coloration. Other leaves on the twig had parts of their edges missing; the caterpillar had been feeding when not hiding in its leaf nest. I did not see it turn to the clear yellow stage before pupating. One day it was gone. A week or so later I saw a black and silver butterfly in the same area; I'd like to think it was the former caterpillar.

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