If you live in the Southeast, perhaps you’ve seen one of these beauties floating through your gardens. 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!
This most magnificent of butterflies has what is arguably the ugliest of caterpillars. These caterpillars grow quite large, and need extra protection from predators while they grow. Camouflage is their main form of defense; rather than blending in with the leaves or flowers like some other caterpillars, these little guys instead choose to make themselves as unappealing as possible by resembling, well, bird poop.
It’s hard to imagine that anyone would object to having these amazing butterflies around, but in some areas, that’s exactly the case. What’s the problem? Giant Swallowtail caterpillars host on several plants, including members of the citrus family. In areas where citrus farming is important to the economy, Giant Swallowtail caterpillars (sometimes called “Orange Dogs”) are a pest instead of a welcome sight.
Fortunately, these butterflies seem to prefer native species over cultivated citrus. If you’re trying to grow citrus in your own yard and are worried about Orange Dog damage, consider planting some Giant Swallowtail alternative host plants, like Hercules Club, Prickly Ash, Wild Lime, or Common Rue. Click here to learn more about Giant Swallowtail host plants and the butterfly’s entire life cycle.
If you’re not able to grow any of these host plants in your yard, you can seek out Giant Swallowtails where they are most likely to be found. In the mid-South, try pine flats. In the Deep South, citrus groves are a good bet. They hibernate in chrysalis during the colder months, appearing in the spring as early as March in warmer regions. Enjoy them all summer long throughout the Eastern U.S., and into the fall down South.
Have you ever spotted a Giant Swallowtail? Tell us about it in the comments!
Every weekend, the Focus on Natives segment highlights a plant, bird, or butterfly native to the Southeastern U.S. Know of a particular species you’d like to see featured here? Make your suggestions in the comments section below.
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Thanks! This article was a big help! I found two of these ugly, even kind of scary, caterpillars on a lime tree in my front yard. After a summer-long engagement against the tomato worms, using nothing more than small pruners as a sort of guillotine, these guys were headed to the same fate… then, I paused, decided I needed more information, and found this article. I love these butterflies in my garden, and would have been so upset to have prevented two of them from reaching their magnificent potential! I’ve been checking on them every day, and they are doing fine, not eating too much of the tree, all is good!
Thanks, B & B!
I’m so glad this was helpful to you, Stephen! I wish more people would stop and do some research before deciding all bugs in the garden are pests. Enjoy your Giant Swallowtails!
Thanks for the information! I saw a Giant Swallowtail in my neighbor’s wisteria flowers this morning. Kind of late in the year (Oct 1) but so exciting! This one was probably 5″ across. Lovely!
I should say I live in Los Angeles area.
We had the Giant Swallowtail in our backyard late last summer in Random Lake, Wisconsin. At first sight, we didn’t know what it was, since it was so huge. I have several photos. It wasn’t here long…maybe two or three weeks, but we sure enjoyed seeing it! It (or they) loved our two butterfly bushes.
I am doing an insect project for school and found one of these butterflies. How are they important to humans?
I am doing an insect project for school and I am doing research on this butterfly. How are giant swallowtails important to humans?
I saw 2 today on my Fire Bush, in Miami Florida.
I have two of these caterpillars feeding on my rue plant. can’t wait until they morph into beautiful butterflies
Saw a giant butterfly hanging out by my plants and it came back at least 3 times. When looking at the plant much later noticed I had small catepillars 2 have made a cocoon and saw 1 come out and fly away very slow at first and then disappeared. Right now I have two catepillars and they are about an inch long. Awaiting to see if they complete their cycle.
I saw one for the first time(2012) at my home here in long lake ny.Im originally from northern N.J. AND had never seen one their eather .WOW (BIG) Can anyone say GLOBLE WARMING!!!!!!!!!