Butterflies are some of the most beautiful and fascinating creatures in the world. Their bright colors and unique patterns brighten gardens and backyards, bringing symbols of hope and new beginnings.
Black and yellow butterflies are particularly striking, with their bold and contrasting colors. If you are looking to identify some of these beautiful creatures, we have compiled a list of ten types of black and yellow butterflies with pictures and identification guide.
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This list includes some of the most common and recognizable species, such as the Giant Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail, as well as some lesser-known species like the Yellow Pansy and Yellow Coster.
Whether you are a butterfly enthusiast or just appreciate the beauty of these creatures, this guide will help you identify and appreciate the diversity of black and yellow butterflies.
10 Types Of Black And Yellow Butterfly With Pictures And Identification Guide
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest butterfly in North America. It is abundant through many parts of eastern North America, and its populations from western North America and down into Panama are now considered to belong to a different species, Papilio rumiko.
The giant swallowtail is widely distributed throughout the American continent, ranging from southern New England across the northern Great Lakes states, into Ontario, through the southern portions of the Central Plains to the Rocky Mountains, southward to Florida and the Caribbean, into the southwestern United States, and on through Mexico to Central and South America.
The adult butterfly is a welcome visitor to butterfly gardens and to general landscape plantings. The larval or caterpillar stage can be considered a pest due to its habit of feeding on the foliage of most Citrus species, which has earned its caterpillars the names orange dog or orange puppy.
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Here are some key features of the Giant Swallowtail:
– Females have an average wingspan of 5.5 in (14 cm), and up to 6.9 in (18 cm), while males’ average is 5.8 in (15 cm), and up to 7.4 in (19 cm) .
– The adult butterfly is a striking, wonderfully “exotic”-looking butterfly that is very abundant in Florida.
– The larval or caterpillar stage can be considered a pest due to its habit of feeding on the foliage of most Citrus species.
– The giant swallowtail is very distinct from all other swallowtails in its range.
– The Giant Swallowtail is a large yellow and black butterfly occasionally seen in the Adirondacks of upstate New York in August.
Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
The Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta) is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in the Palaeotropics. Here are some key features of the Yellow Pansy:
Description:
– The Yellow Pansy has a wingspan of 40-60 mm, with females frequently larger.
– The male upperside is bright yellow.
– The underside of the forewing is pale yellow. The cell is crossed by three laterally black-margined orange-yellow bars, beyond that is a short, broad, irregular jet-black oblique band from costa to base of vein 4. The hindwing is greyish yellow, and in the dry season its form is strongly irrorated (sprinkled) with dusky scales. With a prominent transverse brown discal fascia, its margins are highly sinuous.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Yellow Pansy is usually seen in open scrub and grassland habitats.
– This species can be found in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Behavior:
– They visit flowers of Lantana polyacantha.
Identification:
– The Yellow Pansy is a conspicuous bright yellow, brownish-black, and blue butterfly.
Yellow Coster (Acraea issoria)
The Yellow Coster (Acraea issoria) is a small, leathery-winged butterfly. Here are some key features of the Yellow Coster:
Description:
– The forewing ground-color is yellow, getting paler towards apex, the veins conspicuously darker, the black discocellular mark showing through by transparency. The hindwing is a delicate pinkish white, the veins conspicuously black; a broad subterminal ochraceous lunular band margined on both inner and outer sides by black lines, and a terminal, slender black line.
– The wingspan of the Yellow Coster is about 40-50 mm.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Yellow Coster is found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
– This species is usually found in open scrub and grassland habitats.
Behavior:
– The Yellow Coster is a weak but persistent flyer.
– They visit flowers for nectar.
Identification:
– The Yellow Coster is a beautiful butterfly with ochre yellowish-colored wings.
Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
The Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. Here are some key features of the Tiger Swallowtail:
Description:
– The Tiger Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a wingspan range of 3.12 to 5.5 inches (7.9 to 14.0 cm).
– The male is yellow with dark tiger stripes.
– The female can be either yellow or black, with blue and orange spots near the tail.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Tiger Swallowtail is found throughout eastern North America, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada.
– This species is common in many different habitats, including forests, fields, and gardens.
Behavior:
– The Tiger Swallowtail flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods.
– Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae.
– Female Tiger Swallowtails lay single green eggs on the leaves of woody plants.
Identification:
– The Tiger Swallowtail is a very large butterfly, nearly 5 inches in size.
– The wings of the Tiger Swallowtail are striking yellow and black.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a butterfly species that is widespread and common throughout the world. Here are some key features of the Painted Lady:
Description:
– The Painted Lady is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 2.0-2.5 inches (5-6 cm).
– The wings of the Painted Lady are orange and black, with white spots on the dark forewing tips and white cobwebbing on the brown undersides of the hindwings.
– The Painted Lady has a visual system that resembles that of a honey bee, with adult eyes containing ultraviolet, blue, and green opsins.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Painted Lady is found nearly worldwide, with the exception of South America and Antarctica.
– This species is commonly found in meadows, parks, gardens, and other open habitats.
Behavior:
– The Painted Lady is a migratory butterfly that moves north out of the deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. to temporarily colonize the United States and Canada south of the Arctic.
– Female Painted Ladies lay pale green eggs singly on leaves of many different food plants, and the spiny caterpillars feed on the leaves of a wide variety of host plants.
Identification:
– The Painted Lady is a medium-sized butterfly with orange and black wings.
– The Painted Lady is similar to the American Lady, which has two large eyespots on the hindwing below, whereas the Painted Lady has four eyespots.
Zebra Longwing
The Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the family Nymphalidae. Here are some key features of the Zebra Longwing:
Description:
– The Zebra Longwing has long, narrow wings that are striped black and pale yellow.
– The wingspan of the Zebra Longwing ranges from 2.75 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm).
– The Zebra Longwing has a distinctive appearance, making it easy to identify.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Zebra Longwing is found throughout the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
– This species is commonly found in subtropical hammocks, forest margins, shrubby thickets, and adjacent open areas.
Behavior:
– The Zebra Longwing is a slow, fluttery flier that is often seen in butterfly gardens and suburban yards and parks.
– Female Zebra Longwings lay their eggs on passionflower plants, which serve as the primary food source for their caterpillars.
– Zebra Longwings are known for their communal roosting behavior, with up to 60 individuals perching together on a branch at night.
Identification:
– The Zebra Longwing has elongated black wings with yellow stripes.
– The wings of the Zebra Longwing are longer and narrower than those of most other butterflies.
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
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The Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) is a butterfly species found throughout much of North America. Here are some key features of the Black Swallowtail:
Description:
– The Black Swallowtail is a medium to large butterfly with a wingspan of 2.75 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm).
– The wings of the Black Swallowtail are black with yellow markings, including a row of yellow spots along the edge of the hindwing.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Black Swallowtail is found throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
– This species is commonly found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and gardens.
Behavior:
– The Black Swallowtail is a common visitor to gardens and is attracted to a variety of flowers for nectar.
– Female Black Swallowtails lay their eggs on the leaves of plants in the carrot family, including parsley, dill, and fennel.
– The caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail are often considered pests because they can damage crops.
Identification:
– The Black Swallowtail is a medium to large butterfly with black wings and yellow markings.
– The Black Swallowtail can be distinguished from other swallowtail species by the row of yellow spots along the edge of the hindwing.
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
The Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is a medium-sized yellow butterfly found throughout most of North America. Here are some key features of the Clouded Sulphur:
Description:
– The Clouded Sulphur has bright lemon-yellow wings with black borders on the upper side.
– Both males and females have yellow wings, but females have more black markings.
– The wingspan of the Clouded Sulphur ranges from 1.25 to 2 inches (3.5 to 5.1 cm).
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Clouded Sulphur can be found in fields, lawns, alfalfa or clover fields, meadows, and roadsides.
– This species ranges over most of North America, with the exception of Labrador, Nunavut, and northern Quebec.
Behavior:
– The Clouded Sulphur feeds on the nectar of a variety of flowers, including milkweed, butterfly bush, and coneflower.
– Female Clouded Sulphurs lay their eggs on the leaves of legumes, including clover and alfalfa.
– Clouded Sulphurs are known to congregate at mud puddles to drink water and obtain minerals.
Identification:
– The Clouded Sulphur is a medium-sized yellow butterfly with black borders on the upper side of its wings.
– The Clouded Sulphur can be distinguished from other yellow butterflies by its black borders and submarginal dots on the undersides of the hindwings.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. Here are some key features of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail:
Description:
– The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 3.5 to 6.5 inches (8.9 to 16.5 cm).
– The male is yellow with four black “tiger stripes” on each forewing.
– The female can be either yellow or black, with blue and orange spots near the tail.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is found throughout eastern North America, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada.
– This species is common in many different habitats, including forests, fields, and gardens.
Behavior:
– The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods.
– Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae.
– Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtails lay single green eggs on the leaves of woody plants, and the spiny caterpillars feed on the leaves of a wide variety of host plants.
Identification:
– The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a large butterfly with yellow wings and black stripes.
– The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail can be distinguished from other swallowtail species by its four black “tiger stripes” on each forewing.
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
The Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) is a small to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. Here are some key features of the Cabbage White:
Description:
– The Cabbage White is recognizable by its white color with small black dots on its wings.
– The wingspan of the Cabbage White ranges from 1.25 to 2 inches (3.5 to 5.1 cm).
– The caterpillars of the Cabbage White are bluish-green, with tiny black points, a black ring around the spiracles, and a lateral row of yellow dashes, and a yellow middorsal line.
Habitat and Distribution:
– The Cabbage White is found throughout most of North America, Europe, and Asia.
– This species is commonly found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and gardens.
Behavior:
– The Cabbage White is considered a major economic pest and can locally decimate cabbage and other Brassica crops.
– Female Cabbage Whites lay their eggs singly on leaves of plants in the mustard family, including cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.
– The caterpillars of the Cabbage White rest on the undersides of the leaves, making them less visible to predators.
Identification:
– The Cabbage White is a small to medium-sized butterfly with white wings and small black dots.
– The Cabbage White can be distinguished from other white butterflies by its larger size and the black band at the tip of its forewings.
FAQS
1. What are some common black and yellow butterfly species?
Some common black and yellow butterfly species include the Giant Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Yellow Pansy, Yellow Coster, Zebra Longwing, Clouded Sulphur, Painted Lady, and Cabbage White.
2. How can I identify a black and yellow butterfly?
Black and yellow butterflies can be identified by their distinctive color patterns and markings. For example, the Tiger Swallowtail has black stripes on its yellow wings, while the Black Swallowtail has yellow markings on its black wings.
3. Where can I find black and yellow butterflies?
Black and yellow butterflies can be found in a variety of habitats, including fields, meadows, gardens, and forests. Some species are migratory and can be found in different parts of the world.
4. What do black and yellow butterflies eat?
Black and yellow butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers, and their caterpillars feed on the leaves of specific host plants. For example, the caterpillars of the Cabbage White feed on plants in the mustard family, while the caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail feed on plants in the carrot family.
5. Are black and yellow butterflies harmful?
Black and yellow butterflies are generally harmless to humans, but some species can be considered pests because their caterpillars can damage crops. For example, the Cabbage White is considered a major economic pest because it can decimate cabbage and other Brassica crops.
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