Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus)Butterflies in NE Florida Landscapes
Field Identification: Medium to large black butterfly with tails present and a bright orange spot on the leading edge, a pale orange spot on the lower edge and a Green (male) or Blue (female) flush on the upper hindwing with pale yellowish or yellowish green spots along the outer wing border. And of coarse they have the beautiful tails. When the butterflies are feeding or at rest they can look very similar to a black swallowtail butterfly which also has a black and blue section on the lower hindwing that is bordered by orange spots on its lower hindwings underside and two rows of yellow splotches/dots on the upper hindwings underside. The video above shows the ID field trick so you can tell them apart at a glance when the lower wings are exposed! The Spicebush will have a rocket on the third dot from the bottom!
Host Plants for Caterpillars include many plants in the Laurel family and include Bay laurel, Red bay, Swamp Bay, Spicebush, sassafrass, camphor, silkbay and pondspice.
Habitats for the Spicebush Swallowtial butterfly include flatwoods and hammocks throughout Florida with the exclusion of the southernmost parts of the state. They are considered a common butterfly in most of Florida (except for its southernmost portions)