Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is in the Swallowtails and Parnassians family (Papilionidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 63,885 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
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 Spicebush Swallowtail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus, the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. The spicebush swallowtail derives its name from its most common host plant, the spicebush, members of the genus Lindera.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Spicebush Swallowtail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 5,652 | September | Mar–Sep |
| Virginia | 5,521 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 5,015 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Ohio | 4,535 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 4,434 | August | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 3,603 | August | Apr–Aug |
| New York | 3,322 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 2,691 | August | Mar–Sep |
| Tennessee | 2,567 | July | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 2,509 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Missouri | 2,477 | August | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 2,308 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 2,284 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 2,142 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Michigan | 1,819 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Georgia | 1,715 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Kentucky | 1,614 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 1,581 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 1,524 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 1,474 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 1,201 | August | Mar–Sep |
| West Virginia | 697 | August | May–Aug |
| South Carolina | 636 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Delaware | 573 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 558 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 408 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 368 | July | Jul–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 280 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 238 | August | May–Aug |
| Vermont | 78 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Maine | 37 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kansas | 18 | July | Jul–Aug |
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
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail
Anise 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 Spicebush Swallowtail?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Spicebush Swallowtail most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania.