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 25 - 48 of 3275 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Addison County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: Becky Cover
Region: Rockdale County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 26, 2024
Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: cbelzamour
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2024
Submitted by: rtsmith
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2018
Submitted by: chirpus
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: Ljblack
Region: Harrison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: JolieElise
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: joelnjan
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 14, 2023
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Callaway County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Jun 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Pierce County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: jacobslyn
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 04, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 03, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 14, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
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