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Giant Swallowtail
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Papilionidae Genus: Papilio Species: P. cresphontes
Binomial name
Papilio cresphontes

The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) is a swallowtail butterfly common in various parts of North America, particularly the south and east. With a wingspan of about 10-16 cm^[1] , it is the largest butterfly in the United States.

Larva

Giant Swallowtail caterpillars feed primarily on citrus plants, prickly ash, and hoptrees. They are known as Orange Dogs to citrus farmers because of their destructive capabilities.

The caterpillar has two effective adaptations for defense against birds. The first is a reddish osmeterium that is extended when the insect is provoked, releasing foul-smelling pheromones thought to deter birds. The larva are also camouflaged to resemble bird droppings.

Adult

The adults' wings are black, with two striking yellow stripes across the forewings and hindwings.

Giant Swallowtails feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers, but are known to enjoy azalea, bougainvilla, goldenrod, Japanese honeysuckle, and milkweed ^[2].

Images

Giant swallowtail larva on lemon leaf.

Larva showing defensive behavior.

Adult resting on a flower.

References

1. ^ Giant Swallowtail. (2006). In Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1366
2. ^ Giant Swallowtail. (2006-2007). In Featured Creatures. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/GiantSwallowtail.htm

v • d • e Butterflies of Michigan Spread-winged Skippers (Pyrginae) Silver-spotted Skipper • Hoary Edge • Northern Cloudywing • Southern Cloudywing • Dreamy Duskywing • Sleepy Duskywing • Juvenal's Duskywing • Horace's Duskywing • Mottled Duskywing • Wild Indigo Duskywing • Columbine Duskywing • Persius Duskywing • Grizzled Skipper • Common Checkered-Skipper • Common Sootywing Skipperlings (Heteropterinae) Arctic Skipper Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Least Skipper • Powesheik Skipperling • European Skipper • Fiery Skipper • Common Branded Skipper • Ottoe Skipper • Leonard's Skipper • Cobweb Skipper • Indian Skipper • Peck's Skipper • Tawny-edged Skipper • Crossline Skipper • Long Dash • Northern Broken-Dash • Little Glassywing • Delaware Skipper • Hobomok Skipper • Mulberry Skipper • Broad-winged Skipper • Black Dash • Dion Skipper • Dukes' Skipper • Two-spotted Skipper • Dun Skipper • Dusted Skipper • Pepper and Salt Skipper • Common Roadside-Skipper Swallowtails (Papilioninae) Pipevine Swallowtail • Zebra Swallowtail • Eastern Tiger Swallowtail • Canadian Tiger Swallowtail • Spicebush Swallowtail • Giant Swallowtail Whites (Pierinae) Checkered White • Cabbage White • Mustard White • West Virginia White • Large Marble • Olympia Marble Sulphurs (Coliadinae) Clouded Sulphur • Orange Sulphur • Pink-edged Sulphur • Little Yellow Harvesters (Miletinae) Harvester Coppers (Lycaeninae) American Copper • Bronze Copper • Bog Copper • Purplish Copper • Dorcas Copper Hairstreaks (Theclinae) Brown Elfin • Hoary Elfin • Frosted Elfin • Henry's Elfin • Western Pine Elfin • Eastern Pine Elfin • Southern Hairstreak • Coral Hairstreak • Acadian Hairstreak • Hickory Hairstreak • Edwards' Hairstreak • Banded Hairstreak • Striped Hairstreak • Red-banded Hairstreak • Gray Hairstreak • White M Hairstreak • Early Hairstreak Blues (Polyommatinae) Eastern Tailed-Blue • Western Tailed-Blue • Spring Azure • Summer Azure • Silvery Blue • Northern Blue • Melissa Blue • Greenish Blue Metalmarks (Riodinidae) Swamp Metalmark Snouts (Libytheinae) American Snout Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae) Monarch Longwings and Fritillaries (Heliconiinae) Variegated Fritillary • Great Spangled Fritillary • Aphrodite Fritillary • Regal Fritillary • Atlantis Fritillary • Bog Fritillary • Silver-bordered Fritillary • Meadow Fritillary • Frigga Fritillary • Freija Fritillary Admirals & Relatives (Limenitidinae) Red-spotted Purple • White Admiral • 'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple • Viceroy Emperors (Apaturinae) Hackberry Emperor • Tawny Emperor Satyrs & Wood-Nymphs (Satyrinae) Northern Pearly Eye • Eyed Brown • Appalachian Brown • Mitchell's Satyr • Little Wood Satyr • Common Ringlet • Common Wood Nymph • Red-disked Alpine • Jutta Arctic • Chryxus Arctic True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae) Gorgone Checkerspot • Silvery Checkerspot • Harris' Checkerspot • Pearl Crescent • Northern Crescent • Tawny Crescent • Baltimore • Common Buckeye • Question Mark • Eastern Comma • Satyr Comma • Green Comma • Hoary Comma • Gray Comma • Milbert's Tortoiseshell • Compton Tortoiseshell • Mourning Cloak • Red Admiral • Painted Lady • American Lady

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