Blue and Black Butterfly Species Identification

A blue and black butterfly belongs to different species of colorful butterflies, including Swallowtails, Blue morphos, Common blues, Common olive wing, and the Mexican bluewing.

Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly

Pipevine swallowtail butterflies (Battus philenor) are also known as Blue swallowtails. The upper side of the male wings is black, with hindwings that have a blue-green or blue iridescence. The forewings and hindwings have light spots on the margins. The abdomen has white spots.

The Pipevine swallowtail’s primary host plant is the pipevine. Battus philenor prefers a warm temperate climate. Their flight season is from February to November, and they can have three or more generations. The blue swallowtail larvae feed on pipevines and retain the toxins they use to deter predators.

Battus philenor ranges include:

• Connecticut
• Florida
• New Mexico
• Texas
• Nebraska
• Ontario

Common Olivewing Butterfly

The Common olivewing butterfly (Nessaea aglaura), or the Aglaura olivewing, belongs to the family Nymphalidae and subfamily Biblidinae. These butterflies’ wings have blue pigments. Males’ wings are 1.2 to 1.3 inches (3.1 to 3.4 cm), and females’ wings are 1.1 to 1.4 inches (2.8 to 3.6 cm) long.

Common olivewings love forests, mostly in the wettest parts. There are multiple generations in a year, so these butterflies are around several times a year.

Nessaea aglaura is common in:

• Mexico
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Panama
• Venezuela

Blue Morpho Butterfly

The Blue morpho butterfly, also known as the Common blue morpho or Peleides blue morpho is bright blue with a black border. The black border is larger in females. The undersides of the wings are patterned with brown coloration. The forewings and hindwings have eyespots on the ventral side.

Adult Blue morphos are frugivores (fruit feeders), so they’re often found feeding on decaying fruits. If fruits are not available, they feed on tree sap. During courtship, the males fly in circles when chasing females.

Blue morphos are residents of:

• Mexico
• Paraguay
• South America
• Central America

Mexican Bluewing Butterfly

The Mexican bluewing (Myscelia ethusa) has a 2.5 inches to 3 inches (6.4 to 7.6 cm) wingspan. This beautiful butterfly has a black upperside with blue bands. The forewings have white spots on the outer half. The underside is brown and looks like tree bark.

Myscelia ethusa caterpillars use dung pellets and silk to prepare resting perches on leaves. Adults rest with wings closed, and they often rest on tree trunks.

The Bluewings live in Central America, Colombia, and Mexico.

Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly

The Red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) comes with a black upper surface with iridescent blue spots along the wing edges. The underside of the wings is brown-black with two rows of iridescent blue markings and a row of orange spots on the margin.

The life cycle of these butterflies starts with pale green eggs with spikes. The larvae mimic bird droppings and have a brown head and greenish-brown body. The pupae hangs vertically on twigs and is brown-white with an odd shape. Limenitis arthemis astyanax interbreeds with viceroy and white admiral butterflies.

Red-spotted purple butterflies are residents of:

• Florida
• New York
• Texas
• Minnesota
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• Wisconsin

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Black swallowtail butterflies (Papilio polyxenes) are large and have tails. These beautiful creatures have black wings with rows of yellow spots on the margins. They have red eyespots near the margin of the hindwing and a bit of blue iridescence, close to the tail.

Black swallowtail caterpillars can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) and resemble bird droppings. Adults appear during spring, and they have two to three flight seasons.

Papilio polyxenes can be seen in Mexico and the following US states:

• Arizona
• Southern California
• Colorado
• North Dakota

Common Blue Butterfly

The Common blue butterfly belongs to the subfamily Polyommatinae. The butterflies in this subfamily are called the blues because of their wing’s coloration. The males have blue wings with a white fringe and black-brown border. The females have brown wings with orange spots along the edges and a blue dusting.

The Common blues have 2 to 3 generations in a year. The caterpillars produce a liquid that ants feed on; in return, the ants protect the caterpillars from predators.

Common blues are found in Europe, the Canary Islands, North Africa, Canada, and the British Isles.

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly

Spicebush swallowtail butterflies (Papilio troilus) have a wingspan of a 3.6 to 4.9 inches (9.2 to 12.4 cm). The upper side of the front wings is black, with a row of light yellow spots on the margin. The hindwing’s upper surface is black with rows of light green spots. 

Male hindwings have a green to blue-green coloring in the middle, and the females have a blue coloration. The hindwing’s underside has pale green and orange spots on the margin. Blue and black patches separate the spots.

Spicebush swallowtails have slow courtship flights that are common in the afternoon. The males like to puddle to extract minerals from the wet soil. When puddling, they can be found in moist ridges and water banks.

The Spicebush swallowtail is common in southern Canada, west Texas, and southern Florida.