About Papilio indra Reakirt, 1866
The Indra swallowtail, scientifically named Papilio indra Reakirt, 1866, is a black butterfly with very few blue and whitish markings. Its coloration is similar to that of the black swallowtail or the short-tailed swallowtail. This species has a very short tail, and dark blue crescents on the topside of its hindwing. Papilio indra occurs across a wide range of elevations, from sea level in some areas to several thousand feet in others, and occupies a variety of ecosystems. It can be found near many cities and other human settlements, as well as in extremely isolated, pristine forested regions, remote high deserts, prairies, and montane habitats. Geographically, Papilio indra lives in the western half of North America. Its range extends from extreme southern British Columbia, south through Washington, Oregon and California, reaching as far as northern Baja California, Mexico. It is also found around the Rocky Mountains, from Idaho and western Montana in the north, through Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, south to Arizona and New Mexico. Additional sightings have been recorded as far east as western Nebraska and South Dakota. Its known food plants are parsley, wild carrot, and other species in the Apiaceae (umbelliforme) family.
