Giant Swallowtail

Giant swallowtail

This swallowtail ranges throughout much of the Eastern United States, and is less common in the American Southwest and southern California. It typically stays close to wooded areas, and close to the ground. In a typical year 2-3 broods are produced. It can often be found in woodland areas and residential gardens.

What is the largest swallowtail butterfly?

It's the Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), the largest butterfly in the United States. With a wingspan that can measure over 6 inches, this is one butterfly that will definitely catch your attention!

What is the life cycle of the giant swallowtail butterfly?

Butterflies have four life stages, the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. Each of the four stages is unique to individual species, and that is what makes watching and raising butterflies so fun!

Is a giant swallowtail poisonous?

"Don't eat 'em; they're quite poisonous." Both the caterpillar and the adult are poisonous. The caterpillars of the Pipevine Swallowtail feed on the poisonous host plant, Aristolochia, also known as the pipevine, Dutchman's pipe or birthwort. It contains the lethal toxin aristolochic acid.

Can you touch swallowtail caterpillars?

Most caterpillars are perfectly safe to handle. Painted lady and swallowtail caterpillars are common examples. Even the monarch butterfly caterpillar, though toxic if eaten, does nothing more than tickle you when held.

Are giant swallowtails rare?

The giant swallowtail is common across the United States, reaching as far north as southern New England and southern Canada.

What does a Giant Swallowtail caterpillar turn into?

When giant swallowtails finish their last shedding, they will wander off the host plant to look for a perfect spot to pupate, which is the last stage before they emerge as butterflies. A pupa is the life stage of some insects transforming from immature into mature stages.

Do giant swallowtails overwinter?

Black (or American) Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes), Like Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails overwinter as pupa inside a chrysalis. The chrysalis may be brown or green to blend in with the color of its environment.

Should I remove swallowtail caterpillar?

If you see one in your garden, I encourage you to let it eat whichever plant it's on! You can also (gently) move a swallowtail caterpillar on dill to another host plant, though they don't like to be moved when they're ready to molt.

What is special about swallowtail butterfly?

Swallowtail butterflies practice Batesian mimicry, a behavior in which the butterflies' appearance closely resemble that of distasteful species that prevents predation. Swallowtails differ from many animals that practice mimicry.

How do you attract a Giant Swallowtail?

If you'd like to attract swallowtails to your garden, the two most important factors to consider are providing host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for adults. Host plants are specific plants that butterflies lay their eggs on.

Should I bring swallowtail caterpillar inside?

Black Swallowtail butterflies are great to raise indoors for several reasons including abundance, plentiful food source, attractive and interesting caterpillars, and of course beautiful butterflies.

Do swallowtail butterflies bite?

They can't hurt you at all they don't even have teeth. They don't even have mouths.

What is the lifespan of a swallowtail?

Most species of swallowtail have a life expectancy just around 1 month. Some, like the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) live only 10-12 days, while other species have been recorded living up to 45 days.

Is a swallowtail rare?

For centuries, the California pipevine swallowtail — or, Battus philenor hirsuta — called San Francisco home. As development increased in the early 20th century, the butterfly slowly began to disappear. Today it is a rare sight.

Are swallowtail butterflies poisonous to humans?

The adults are also poisonous, and the female passes some of the chemicals on to the eggs, protecting them from predators as well. The pipevine swallowtail butterfly also occurs across the eastern and southern portions of the U.S. and into Central America, where the caterpillars feed on closely related plants.

What eats a swallowtail butterfly?

Predators (animals that eat them) of the black swallowtail can include centipedes, spiders, mantids, beetles, ants, wasps, toads, frogs, lizards, birds, rodents, and bats.

What can I feed Giant Swallowtail caterpillars?

Giant swallowtail caterpillars feed on a variety of trees within the citrus family (Rutaceae) including sweet orange, lime, and the hoptree.

Are swallowtail butterflies good?

Swallowtail butterfly benefits include their work as efficient pollinators. They flit to flowers and dig in for nectar, which energizes them for flight.

How long do Giant Swallowtail stay in chrysalis?

The pupa (a more general name for chrysalis that can be also applied to all metamorphizing insects, not just butterflies and moths) will last from ten to more than twelve days before emerging into an adult. Unlike the Monarch, we have not noticed the Giant Swallowtail chrysalis changing color over time.