Photo by Leonard Lee Rue III.
Week of July 18-24, 2004
With a wingspan of 4 or more inches, the spicebush swallowtail is
among the largest butterflies on
the continent. It is also one of the
best deceptive mimics.
As a caterpillar with a
preference for spicebush foliage,
it avoids predators by feeding only
at night and displaying a pair of
ringed, bulging dark spots. Quite
convincingly mimicking a large
pair of eyes (suggesting a much
larger creature), the pattern
effectively discourages trouble
from birds.
As an adult with dark wings
edged in yellow crescents, it is
similar in appearance to the slightly
smaller but more widespread pipevine swallowtail, whose bitter taste is
regrettable to birds. Should an avian predator ever sample one, it
immediately learns to recognize the coloration and eliminate it as a future
menu item – along with its untried but better-tasting spicebush cousins.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
wingspan 4-5 inches
Habitat: moist deciduous and mixed forests
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