Spicebush Swallowtail

Papilio troilus

Numerous throughout the southern United States, the Spicebush Swallowtail can only be found in East Texas. Males have more of a greenish-white coloration on the upperside of the hindwings (pictured below). Females have more of a blue hue with two orange spots at the top of the hindwings (not pictured).

The Spicebush Swallowtail mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail. It differs from the Pipevine in two distinct ways. First, it has two rows of orange spots on the underside of its wings making it look more like the Black Swallowtail. Second, the white spots on the upperside cling more closely to the edge of the wings than those of the Pipevine Swallowtail.

I’ve spotted a few of these at the Mercer Botanical Gardens on the north side of Houston..

Glad to hear from readers where they have seen Spicebush Swallowtails. Also glad for someone to post a photo of a female. I don’t have a good shot of one, yet!