Spicebush Swallowtail
Pterourus troilus Linnaeus, 1758
Spicebush Swallowtail: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/492
Synonyms
Hodges #4181  Papilio troilus 
Tags

Map Snapshot

1,115 Records

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Status

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) occurs commonly throughout Maryland. This blackish butterfly is a Batesian mimic of the distasteful Pipevine Swalllowtail (Battus philenor). Batesian mimicry is when one or more harmless species mimics the appearance of a toxic or distasteful species, attaining some degree of protection from predators who learn to avoid the model, a protection usually extending to the mimics as well.

This swallowtail is on the wing much of the spring and summer in Maryland, from early May into early September, in several broods (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith; Brock & Kaufman 2003).

Relationships

Spicebush Swallowtail larvae only use the family Lauraceae as host plants. This includes Common Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and Sassafras (Sassafras albidum).

Seasonality Snapshot

Resources

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View images at BugGuide
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Source: Wikipedia

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