Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association - WWRA

The Black Swallowtail Butterfly is our Wildlife of the Week. The Black Swallowtail is one of the most recognizable and widespread butterflies in North America, frequently found in fields, meadows, gardens, and open spaces from southern Canada down through most of the eastern and central United States.

The adult butterfly has a wingspan of roughly 3 to 4 inches. Its velvety black wings feature two rows of bright yellow spots along the edges, though these spots are noticeably larger and more vibrant on males than on females.

To spot a Black Swallowtail in the field, look for these distinctive features:

The "swallow tail": Elongated, tail-like extensions on the hindwings that mimic the look of a swallow's tail feathers.
Iridescent Blue: A prominent band of powdery blue scaling sits between the rows of yellow spots on the hindwings, which is much more pronounced on the females.

The orange eyespot: A distinct orange spot containing a black centered pupil is located on the inner edge of the hindwing near the tail, serving to confuse predators.

Females lay small, round yellow eggs singly on the leaves of host plants, including Queen Anne's lace and water hemlock, as well as garden favorites like parsley, dill, fennel, and celery. As the larvae grow, they transform from small, bird-dropping mimics into striking green caterpillars striped with black bands and dotted with bright yellow spots.

They produce two to three broods a year. The final generation of the season spends the winter safe inside a chrysalis—which can be green or wood-brown to match its surroundings—before emerging as a butterfly the following spring.

Fun Fact: When threatened, the caterpillar deploys a bright orange, glandular organ from behind its head called an osmeterium. This organ emits a strong, foul-smelling odor to deter predators like birds and ants.

(Photo by Tom Ress)

Today is World Turtle Day!

Today, we are hitting the brakes on our fast-paced lives to celebrate some of the oldest, coolest, and most resilient creatures on Earth.

From the tiny box turtles in your backyard to the majestic sea turtles gliding through our oceans, these shell-dwelling wonders have been holding it down for over 200 million years. But today, they need our help.

How You Can Shell-ebrate:

Give 'em a brake: Keep an eye out for turtles crossing the road. (Always move them in the direction they were already heading!)

Ditch the plastic: Reduce single-use plastics to keep our oceans safe for sea turtles.

Spread the word: Share your favorite turtle facts or photos using .

Let’s make sure these ancient mariners and land-lubbers stick around for millions of years to come. Shell yeah!