Observation date: August 23, 2024
Date notes: First Giant Swallowtail to ever leave eggs here in 14 years. I counted 20.
Submitted by: COA1955
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Hello Mike, this is the first Giant Swallowtail to ever leave eggs here in 14 years. I counted 20. Eggs deposited on Rue. Only my sixth sighting of a wild Giant in all that time. Also, you previously identified a Giant I submitted as P. rumiko although in your message to me you said it was P. cresphontes because of the two yellow dots on head. Thought you might want to correct that, number 1184151. Hope you're having a great Summer and thank you. Char
Status: Migrant
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: September 13, 2024
Coordinator notes: Very neat picture Char...yes Rue is a host for the Giant Swallowtail. I examined your photo with magnifier to screen and can see two distinct spots, not a uniform yellow stripe on the tegulae. Overwintering stage for swallowtails in the northland is the pupae so if you don't mind the caterpillars feeding on your patch, keep me posted on the progress...at least if you continue to find and observe them and they are not picked off by birds or wasps. They might be able to make it if we don't get too early a freeze this fall Per Sighting 1184151: I checked my notes (2018) and confirm what you said I said that the sighting I verified as P. cresphontes and not P. rumiko...someone could have changed the ID and I might not have gotten notification it was. I'll check further and see if I can get the original sighting. Both species are listed in the BAMONA data base. Take care, Mike
