Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes Cramer, 1777
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Forewing with diagonal band of yellow spots. Tails are edged with black and filled with yellow.
Wing Span: 4 - 6 1/4 inches (10.2 - 16 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for receptive females. Females lay single eggs on host leaves and twigs. Caterpillars resemble bird droppings and eat leaves and young shoots. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Two in the north from May-September; all year in Florida and the Deep South.
Caterpillar Hosts: Trees and herbs of the citrus family (Rutaceae) including Citrus species, prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), and Common Rue (Ruta graveolens).
Adult Food: Nectar from lantana, azalea, bougainvilla, bouncing Bet, dame's rocket, goldenrod, Japanese honeysuckle, and swamp milkweed.
Habitat: Many locales including rocky and sandy hillsides near streams or gullies in the north; pine flats, towns, and citrus groves in the south.
Range: Throughout eastern North America west to the Rocky Mountains, south through the desert Southwest to South America. A rare stray to Quebec, North Dakota, and Bermuda.
Conservation: Not required in the United States.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Caterpillars ("orange dogs") are occasional pests of citrus.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 289 - 312 of 3345 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2019
Submitted by: Zinna_2019
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 23, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: melody.m
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 23, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Monroe County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 18, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Aug 23, 2021
Submitted by: BMcNaught
Region: Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 23, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: hollyhoitink
Region: Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Tiliaamericana10
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2021
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Sep 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: 1velvetcat
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Cass County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: getherington
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: Jeswain60
Region: York County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: Ardonoghue
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
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