Oklahoma State Butterfly

Black Swallowtail

(Papilio polyxenes)

Adopted on November 1, 1996.

Oklahoma Legislature

§25-98.5. State butterfly.
The black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, is hereby designated and adopted as the state butterfly of the State of Oklahoma.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 11, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1996.

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes Fabricius)

Wing span: 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches (8 - 11 cm).

Identification: Upper surface of wings mostly black; on inner edge of hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. Male has yellow band near edge of wings; female has row of yellow spots. Female hindwing with iridescent blue band. In the Southwest, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies P. coloro.

Life history: Males perch and patrol for receptive females. Female lays eggs singly on leaves and flowers of the host, which are then eaten by hatching larvae. Hibernates as a chrysalis.

Flight: One-2 flights from April-October in northern regions of range; 3 flights in southern regions.

Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill. Sometimes plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) are preferred.

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including red clover, milkweed, and thistles.

Habitat: A variety of open areas including fields, suburbs, marshes, deserts, and roadsides.

Range: Most of the eastern US, north into Quebec, west into s. Saskatchewan, Colorado and se. California; south to n. South America. Subspecies coloro in desert Southwest.

House Bill No. 2082

An Act relating to state emblems;
designating the black swallowtail as the state butterfly of the State of Oklahoma;
providing for codification; providing for noncodification; and providing an effective date.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oklahoma:

SECTION 1. Oklahoma is fortunate in providing a home to a wide array of colorful butterflies. The black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, is a migratory species indigenous to our state from May to October. The black swallowtail plays a vital role in the cross-pollination of plant life in Oklahoma, which is a necessary link in the chain which supports our ecology. In addition, the presence of the black swallowtail in Oklahoma not only adds color and beauty to our state but provides enjoyment for our citizens and an opportunity to study and understand the contributions this insect makes to our environment.

SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 98.5 of Title 25, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

The black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, is hereby designated and adopted as the state butterfly of the State of Oklahoma.

SECTION 3. The provisions of Section 1 of this act shall not be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes.

SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 1996.

Approved April 1, 1996.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Animalia -- animals
Phylum	Chordata -- chordates
Class	Insecta - Insects
Order	Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths
Family	Papilionidae - Swallowtails
Genus	Papilio
Species	Papilio polyxenes

State Insects

State Insects and Butterflies

Many states have selected insects as one of their state symbols, however nine states (out of 50) have no official state insect as of 2008 .

in·sect (in′sekt′)
noun

1. any of a large class (Insecta) of small arthropod animals characterized, in the adult state, by division of the body into head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of legs on the thorax, and, usually, two pairs of membranous wings, including beetles, bees, flies, wasps, and mosquitoes
2. popularly any small arthropod, usually wingless, including spiders, centipedes, pill bugs, and mites

but·ter·fly (-flī′)
noun pl. -·flies′

1. any of various families of lepidopteran insects active in the daytime, having a sucking mouthpart, slender body, ropelike, knobbed antennae, and four broad, usually brightly colored, membranous wings

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