Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) is in the Swallowtails and Parnassians family (Papilionidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 22,712 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Anise Swallowtail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon, the anise swallowtail, is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America. Both the upper and lower sides of its wings are black, but the upper wing has a broad yellow stripe across it, which gives the butterfly an overall yellow appearance. There are striking blue spots on the rear edge of the rear wing, and the characteristic tails of the swallowtails. Its wingspan is 52–80 mm. Its body is somewhat shorter than the rather...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Anise Swallowtail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,126 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Oregon | 1,235 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Washington | 1,038 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Colorado | 756 | June | May–Jul |
| Utah | 546 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 270 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Montana | 266 | July | May–Aug |
| Wyoming | 260 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Mexico | 79 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 55 | June | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 30 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 25 | June | May–Jun |
| Arizona | 18 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Dakota | 8 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Swallowtails and Parnassians)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail
Western Giant Swallowtail
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Anise Swallowtail?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from March to September.
Where is Anise Swallowtail most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.