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What is a black butterfly?
What butterflies have black coloration?
What does a black butterfly look like?
What butterflies have black wings?
Black butterflies aren’t black through all of their life stages. Most black butterflies are green or white as caterpillars only form black base coloring after turning into adults. The following butterflies have full black wings or partially black wings and are native to the US.
- Tiger Swallowtail, Dark Phase Female (Papilio glaucus) Tiger swallowtails are big, beautiful butterflies that are typically identified by their bold yellow-and-black stripes, hence their common name.
- Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) The spicebush swallowtail, like the tiger swallowtail, is a big, beautiful butterfly that rarely escapes notice as it glides by.
- Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) The red-spotted purple is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown, nearly black ground color, marked on the trailing edges of the hind wings with shimmering, iridescent blue.
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) This truly beautiful insect is part of a large group of tropical swallowtails that often have iridescent blue or green on their wings.
Black Butterflies. Many of our viewers ask "what is that black butterfly in my backyard?" Several of our favorite butterflies are black, either solid black or shades of black with other markings.
- Peacock. Description: Deep-red with black marks and blue 'eyespots' (like a peacock’s tail feathers) on the forewings and hindwings. When: January-December.
- Red admiral. Description: Black with broad, red stripes on the hindwings and forewings, and white spots near the tips of the forewings. When: January-December.
- Small tortoiseshell. Description: Reddish-orange with black and yellow markings on the forewings and a ring of blue spots around the edge of the wings. When: January-December.
- Painted lady. Description: Orange with black tips to the forewings that are adorned with white spots, and black spots on the hindwings and forewings. When: April-October.
Identify black butterflies with wings open by using the side-by-side photo comparison. See photos of their life cycle and flight range map.
The Black Swallowtail is a medium to large butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 to 4 inches (7-10 cm). Sexual dimorphism is evident, as males and females exhibit different color patterns. Male Black Swallowtail: Males display more vibrant colors with a predominately black upper side of wings.
Discover the beauty and diversity of black butterflies! We've curated a list of the most spectacular species you can find in different parts of the world. From the African Monarch to the majestic Arawak, find out the characteristics that make each butterfly unique and learn how you can identify them in the wild.
