Currently unavailable. The black swallowtail has a wingspan of (8 to 11 centimeters) and is also referred to as the american or parsnip Swallowtail due to its caterpillars preference for garden plants such as carrot (daucus), dill (anethum), fennel (foeniculum), and parsnip (pastinaca). Polyxenes has a wide distribution throughout the North American continent where it produces two broods each year. A lovely butterfly that is well worth breeding.
Larval foodplants: carrot (daucus); dill (anethum); fennel (foeniculum); and parsnip (pastinaca).
Rearing: flowerpot cages; sleeves in hot conditions; plastic boxes.
Photographs: final instar larvae; final instar larvae.