S1

Palamedes Swallowtail

Scientific Name

(Papilio palamedes)

The Palamedes Swallowtail is a large butterfly in the Papilionidae family (1, 2). They are typically found along the coastal plains of southeastern states from Maryland and Virginia to Florida, and westward to Louisiana and Texas (1). They have also been found west and south along the Gulf Coast to central Mexico (3). In Maryland, the Palamedes Swallowtail is spread sparsely throughout several counties and is highly state rare with a rank of S1 (4).

Identification

The Palamedes Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 4.4 to 5.2 inches (5). Their upperside is a brownish-black with bright yellow markings. On the upperside forewing, there are two rows of yellow spots along the margin (1). On the upperside hindwing, there is a marginal row of yellow spots followed by a row of blue spots and a sub-marginal yellow band (1, 6). The abdomen is striped yellow. Their underside has a similar pattern with the addition of more blue and orange (6). You will also notice a distinct basal yellow stipe that runs parallel to the body (1).

Life Cycle

In Maryland, the adult flight period is from June and August to September (7). Occasionally they are found outside the south Pocomoke River area (7).

Females lay eggs singly on the underside of new leaves of the larval host plant (1, 8), Swamp Bay (Persea palustris) (4). Full-grown larva are green with a pale yellow line above a thin black line; their bottom half is a pinkish-tan color. Their most distinct characteristic is a large pair of false eyespots (1). The chrysalis is either green or brown with two short horns. They overwinter during their pupae stage (1, 9, 10).