BEAUTIFUL IN BLACK – THE NJ STATE BUTTERFLY

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By Bonnie McNamee
 
Did you know that the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) was designated the official state butterfly of New Jersey and was signed into law on January 11, 2016?  Widely admired for its beauty, the black swallowtail is indigenous to New Jersey, and can be found in all twenty-one counties.  They like open areas including fields, meadows, roadsides, lawns and gardens.  The genus name "Pupilio" is the Latin word for butterfly.

The black swallowtail has two different markings.  The female is black with blue markings and the male is black with yellow markings.  Their size ranges from 3-1/4 to 4-1/4 inches. To encourage black swallowtail butterflies to visit your garden, plant both flowers to provide nectar, and larval host plants, such as parsley, dill, fennel, and rue that you are willing to let them eat, and refrain from using insecticides in the garden.

A black swallowtail has two generations a year in the northeast, and three generations in the south.  Here, the first group of butterflies emerges between late April and early June after having overwintered in the chrysalis stage.  They mate and then the females lay small, very pale almost white eggs on the underside and top of plant leaves.  After hatching, the caterpillar then emerges, black with a white band (called a saddle) around its middle. This mimics bird droppings thus helping to protect the caterpillars from predators.  As it grows, it develops tiny orange spikes on its body.  Later, the white band disappears and the caterpillar develops green and black bands with yellow spots.  It then pupates for 9-12 days, unless it's in the generation that overwinters.  The second group of butterflies emerges in the late summer and the process repeats itself.  After overwintering, the second-generation mates and their eggs become the first generation the next spring.

When going into the chrysalis stage, the caterpillar spins some silk into a "button" and attaches its rear to a stick or stem.  Then it spins silk into a large thread, attaches it to the stick or stem and then wraps it around itself making a sling.  In less than 24 hours, the caterpillar starts to change in appearance, goes into the chrysalis stage and then 9-12 days later hatches into a beautiful black swallowtail.  This process is miraculous, fun to watch, and educational for children and grandchildren.




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