The king swallowtail (Papilio thoas) is a large butterfly with a black base and vivid yellow diagonal bands across its wings, along with yellow patches on the hindwings. It has a wingspan of about 100–130 mm and can be found in the southern United States, Mexico and Central and South America. The underside of its wings is similar but paler, featuring additional blue markings. This species is a strong flier and feeds on nectar from various flowers.