Many people envision a “black butterfly” as an insect with entirely dark wings. While truly all-black butterflies are uncommon, many species appear predominantly dark due to unique biological and physical characteristics. This deep coloration can create an illusion of pure blackness.
What Makes a Butterfly Appear Black?
The appearance of black in butterflies stems from melanin, a dark pigment. This biological coloring, known as melanism, results from increased melanin concentrations in wing scales. Melanin aids thermoregulation, as darker colors absorb more heat, and offers protection against predators and parasites.
Some butterflies also achieve a dark look through structural coloration, where the physical structure of their wing scales interacts with light. These structures absorb almost all wavelengths of light, resulting in a perceived black. While some butterflies are very dark shades of other colors, a true, uniform black is often an optical illusion.
Identifying Common Black Butterflies
Several butterfly species commonly appear black or mostly dark. The Pipevine Swallowtail ( Battus philenor ) has velvety black forewings and iridescent blue or blue-green hindwings, especially noticeable in males. The underside of its hindwings features a row of seven bright orange spots set against a metallic blue area.
The Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is a large, dark butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. Its wings are a deep maroon or dark brown, edged with a wide, pale yellow border and a line of bright blue spots. When its wings are closed, the underside appears mottled gray, maintaining the yellow borders.
The female Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) appears darker than the male. Females have more extensive blue scaling on their hindwings and smaller yellow spots compared to males. Both sexes feature a conspicuous red eyespot with a black center near the hindwing margin and two rows of yellow spots on the upper wing surface, with the female’s blue area between these rows being more pronounced.
The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is primarily black, with its forewings showing a row of white spots near the outer margin. Male hindwings display a blue-green sheen, while females exhibit a more iridescent blue. The underside of the hindwing has two rows of orange spots that enclose diffuse blue scaling, and the hindwings extend into broad, spoon-shaped tails.
Black Butterfly Habitats and Ranges
These predominantly black butterflies inhabit diverse environments across North America. The Pipevine Swallowtail prefers warm climates, found in open woodlands, meadows, and gardens where its host plant, pipevine, grows. Its distribution extends across the southern United States and into Mexico.
The Mourning Cloak has a wide range, occurring throughout North America from the Canadian tundra to central Mexico, and also in temperate Eurasia. It is adaptable and found in various habitats, including hardwood forests, parks, gardens, and along roadsides.
The Black Swallowtail is common throughout eastern North America, from southern Canada to northern South America. This species favors open, sunny areas like meadows, fields, and gardens, particularly where its host plants from the carrot family are available.
The Spicebush Swallowtail is found in eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada to Florida and westward to Oklahoma and central Texas. Its preferred habitats include deciduous woodlands, wooded swamps, and forest edges, especially where spicebush and sassafras are present.