Butterflies have four wings – a front pair and rear pair. The front pair is called the forewings and the rear pair is the hind wings. The front pair, closer to the butterfly’s antennas, overlaps the hind wings. For butterflies with long tails (aka hindwings tailed), the hind wings have an extension resembling a tail. See the body parts of a butterfly for more information about butterfly anatomy.
What Butterflies Have Long Tails?
Swallowtail butterflies are easy to identify by their vibrant colors and prominent hindwing tails. They are quick and strong fliers and are a treat to watch as they glide through your butterfly garden.
An easy long-tailed (aka hindwing tails) butterfly to identify (and my favorite) is the Zebra Swallowtail. Whether flying or sipping nectar from flowers, you can identify this butterfly by the long tails on its hindwings along with the black and white wings with vibrant red makings. See the Zebra Swallowtail photo below and let us know if you agree.
ID Guide: Butterflies With Long Tails Side-by-Side Comparison
Use the side-by-side photo comparison below to identify butterflies with long tails. Click an image to see additional butterfly photos, including eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, and flight range map. Learn about the host plants they need to lay eggs and for caterpillars to eat.
