Table of Contents
- 1 Where do giant swallowtails live?
- 2 What is the habitat of a swallowtail butterfly?
- 3 How long do giant swallowtails live?
- 4 How can you tell if a Giant Swallowtail is male or female?
- 5 Do Giant Swallowtail caterpillars eat each other?
- 6 How can you tell if a giant swallowtail is male or female?
- 7 Where can you find giant swallowtail in North America?
- 8 How big does a giant swallowtail butterfly get?
Where do giant swallowtails live?
The species ranges southward to Florida and the Caribbean, into the southwestern United States, and on through Mexico to Central and South America. The giant swallowtail is very common throughout the entire state of Florida.
What is the habitat of a swallowtail butterfly?
Adult swallowtails fly in open areas (fields, vacant lots, meadows, open forest, sides of streams) near their food plants, especially where there are abundant flowers. Caterpillars are found on their food plants.
Do giant swallowtails migrate?
As a child (40 years ago) I never saw giant swallowtails in Southern California, but several years ago they starting appearing here and I have been seeing 5 to 10 per year in Camarillo, Calif. They have clearly migrated and are now established here.
Are giant swallowtails 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.
How long do giant swallowtails live?
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Several parts of North America, extending down south to Venezuela, New England and Colombia, as well as Cuba and Jamaica |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests, citrus orchards, wooded areas and fields |
| Lifespan of Adults | Approximately 6-14 days |
How can you tell if a Giant Swallowtail is male or female?
Butterfly aficionados can tell the sex of the Giant Swallowtail by its size and flight pattern. Females are larger, with larger wings, so they get more distance from a wingbeat (and they beat them slower)—making them fly faster.
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.
Are swallowtail butterflies helpful or harmful?
Black swallowtails are not really harmful as adults but they don’t directly benefit any garden plants either. Their young are considered pests in large numbers, but the average hatch doesn’t kill carrot plants, just defoliates them. In time, the carrots can regrow leaves and withstand a larval onslaught.
Do Giant Swallowtail caterpillars eat each other?
Even on a large host plant, they often attack and eat other caterpillars. They are one species that are often raised separately, one per plant stem. Pipevine swallowtails and gold rim (polydamas) swallowtails are extremely cannibalistic in captivity. Once they are near pupation, many farmers raise them separately.
How can you tell if a giant swallowtail is male or female?
Which is the rarest butterfly in the world?
| The very rarest butterflies | |
|---|---|
| Lotis blue | Lycaeides argyrognomon lotis |
| Schaus swallowtail | Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus |
| Lange’s metalmark | Apodemia mormo langei |
| Palos Verdes blue | Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis |
Do giant swallowtails eat rue?
Nectar and Host Plants Used by the Giant Swallowtail Favorite host plants include Hercules Club (or Devil’s Walkingstick), prickly ash, citrus, lime, herb rue, hoptree, and wild lime.
Where can you find giant swallowtail in North America?
The giant swallowtail is common across the United States, reaching as far north as southern New England and southern Canada. South of the United States, it is found in parts of Mexico and also found in Jamaica and Cuba.
How big does a giant swallowtail butterfly get?
Both male and female have dark brown wings with yellow markings, including a large horizontal yellow strip across the wings. The underside and body are mostly yellow. Its size is typically in the 4.0″ – 6.0″ range. Giant Swallowtail Distribution and Habitat
What kind of plant does giant swallowtail butterfly lay eggs on?
The giant swallowtail female deposits orange-peel colored eggs on the surface of green leaves, which means you shouldn’t need to get out the old magnifying glass to confirm identity. Brenda of Brenda’s Butterfly Habitat shared that Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash) was the giants’ host plant of choice in her Michigan garden.
How did the swallowtail butterfly get its wings?
Our giant swallowtail caterpillars didn’t all form their chrysalides at the same time, but they all emerged in a short 2-day span, including three to quickly get the garden party started: SURPRISE! Swallowtail butterflies (in general) have surprisingly fragile wings. This new butterfly lost a tail briefly fluttering around the mesh cage.