black swallowtail

noun

: a usually dark-colored New World swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) having yellow spots on the wing margins and a black spot centered within a larger orange spot on the hind wing inner edge

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Seems to be a black swallowtail. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 6 Aug. 2020 In July, the butterflies finally arrived: tiger swallowtail, monarch, black swallowtail, and cloudless sulphur. Lauren Matison, Outside Online, 12 Oct. 2022 There’s a pollinator bed, which is meant to attract mainly bees and wasps — but which also attracts black swallowtail caterpillars. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2022 Golden Alexanders is a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2021 Certain pollinators like certain plants, such as black swallowtail butterflies that like dill. Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2021 This is, indeed, a black swallowtail, a good native butterfly. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 6 Aug. 2020 In most San Antonio landscapes, expect the black swallowtail to also find your parsley and hatch some hungry caterpillars to feed on the foliage. Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, 25 June 2020 The black swallowtails are harvesting nectar from the small yellow blooms. Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, 30 Apr. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black swallowtail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black swallowtail was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near black swallowtail

Cite this Entry

“Black swallowtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20swallowtail. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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