Spicebush Swallowtail troilus pupae

Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus North America

A large swallowtail from the Eastern parts of North America. The larvae, which have wonderful enlarged eye markings, feed on Spicebush Lindera benzoin and Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Camphor Cinnamomum camphora, and Redbay Persea borbonia, perhaps prickly ash Zanthoxylum americanum. In Europe they are bred on Tulip Tree Liriodendron and Sweetbay Magnolia virginiana.  Butterflies are produced this year. There are two generations. Store winter pupae refrigerated in a plastic box, until May.

On the back of the thorax on the pupa, there is a curious pattern in the exact image of a butterfly, even with curly antennae!