Mississippi State Butterfly

Spicebush Swallowtail

(Battus philenor)

Adopted in 1991.

The Spicebush Swallowtail, Battus philenor, was designated the spicebush swallowtail (Pterourus troilus) as the State Butterfly of Mississippi in 1991. Chapter315, General Laws of Mississippi of 1991.

The wingspan of the adult Spicebush Swallowtail is roughly 4 inches. The upper side of forewing is mostly black with ivory spots along the edge, while the upper surface of hindwing has orange spots on the edge and some blue (female) or blue-green (male) scales. The underside of hindwing is pale green with a few spots. The adults are believed to be part of a mimicry complex that includes the Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Red-Spotted Purple (Limentis arthemis astyanax), and black form females of the Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).

Spicebush swallowtails are mainly found in the eastern states from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Oklahoma and central Texas. They have been reported in Cuba as well. Adults prefer wooded areas and swamps, fields, roadsides, and parks, and feed on nectar from Japanese honeysuckle, thistles, jewelweed, azalea, dogbane, milkweed, sweet pepper bush, and mimosa. Males roam in woods, along roads and woodland edges to find suitable females as mates. Females lay eggs singly on the underside of leaves of sassafras and spicebush. Caterpillars form a shelter by folding leaves over themselves and tying them with silk. They feed nocturnally. Caterpillars have two false eyes and will turn bright yellow later in their development.