4 Yellow and Black Butterfly Species in North America

black swallowtail — If you see a butterfly that appears to be twinning with a bee, it's likely a swallowtail. Darrell Gulin / Getty Images

If you've spotted a yellow and black butterfly flitting through your garden or the woods, you may have encountered one of several striking species common across North America.

These butterflies are not only beautiful, but also biologically rich with color patterns, flight periods, and life cycles that offer clues about their identity.

Let's look at some of the most prominent yellow and black butterflies, what sets them apart, and where you’re likely to find them.

1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

One of the most familiar butterflies in eastern North America, the eastern tiger swallowtail is large, with bold vertical black stripes across yellow wings.

Males are bright yellow with black stripes, and their hindwings have yellow marginal spots (lacking the blue band seen in females). Females come in two forms: a yellow form similar to the male, and a dark form that mimics the toxic pipevine swallowtail to repel predators.

These butterflies favor wild cherry, tulip poplar, and sweet bay as larval host plants.

2. Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Canadian tiger swallowtails. Akchamczuk / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Closely related to the eastern tiger swallowtail, this species is found farther north, particularly in New England and Canada.

It looks similar to the eastern tiger swallowtail but tends to be smaller and more restricted to cooler climates. The vertical black stripes and yellow wings are still present, along with subtle orange spots near the edges.

The flight period typically runs from late May into early July, with peak numbers in mid-June, and eggs are laid singly on leaves of host plants such as birch, aspen, or black cherry.

3. Black Swallowtail

While not entirely yellow, the black swallowtail often features yellow spots and borders that make it a contender for this list.

Males have a more prominent yellow band across their wings, while females have larger blue patches and smaller yellow markings.

Caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family.

4. Spicebush Swallowtail

Though predominantly black, spicebush swallowtails are marked with pale bluish-green spots instead of bright yellow and are often mistaken for the dark-form female eastern tiger swallowtail.

Their larvae resemble bird droppings at first (a disguise to deter predators).

As they mature, they turn green with eye spots on the thorax to scare off would-be threats. Their preferred host plant is the spicebush, found in shaded woods and gardens.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.