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 97 - 120 of 3273 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 07, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 18, 2023
Submitted by: Vickycesani
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 11, 2023
Submitted by: Sunnyduck
Region: Creek County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Apr 05, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 05, 2023
Observation date: Mar 28, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 30, 2023
Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: cncman
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 14, 2023
Observation date: Mar 06, 2023
Submitted by: JolieElise
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 13, 2023
Observation date: Mar 09, 2023
Submitted by: BriannaMerkelson
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 10, 2023
Observation date: Apr 10, 2020
Submitted by: hyrashi
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: Missadventur
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Apr 10, 2020
Submitted by: hyrashi
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 04, 2023
Observation date: Jan 24, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 01, 2023
Observation date: Sep 26, 2016
Submitted by: Rimco4ever@aol.com
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: GwendolynRehm
Region: United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2022
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 22, 2022
Observation date: Dec 03, 2022
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 03, 2022
Observation date: Dec 02, 2022
Submitted by: Carolee Boyles
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 03, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 01, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: SamanthaI
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 27, 2022
Observation date: Oct 26, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: SunnyEstelle
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
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