Detailed information on Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)

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jds43232

Columbus, OH | August 2018 | Neutral

This is actually a question for those "in the know". My roommate and I have raised monarchs many times but we've recently seen the Giant Swallowtail here in Columbus Ohio like crazy. Well, we just had a female lay at least 15 eggs on my peony plants. That seems so odd to me because everything I read says the caterpillars eat rue, ash, and all types of citrus. I'm trying like mad to find out if they eat peony leaves (and they must or why else would she have laid all her eggs on only them?).
Does anyone have any information to share? My roommate already cut the peony stems, put them in flower tubes, and brought them in. I don't think he should have until we knew what to feed them..but they have to eat peony right?

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AFinSD

San Diego, CA | February 2017 | Positive

This butterfly is commonly seen in San Diego.

My spouse and I have seen it frequently where we live, and occasionally on nature hikes (along with the Western Tiger Swallowtail).

They are strong fliers.

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BetCrooks

| September 2012 | Neutral

Actually, these butterflies are moving, living and breeding further north each year. They are now successfully overwintering and breeding just south of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They were always in south-western Ontario at Point Pelee, but their range has moved dramatically up during the past five years.

We saw them in the early spring near Sharbot Lake Ontario. You can see our photos etc at our website at
http://naturalcrooks.com/rambles/giant-swallowtails-ontario/

There's information about their northward changes in an article in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper too. The link is in our article.

Apparently the limit on their breeding may b... read more

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penguinesque

North Hampton, NH | August 2012 | Positive

This beautiful swallowtail is being seen with increasing regularity in Mass and NH. Came to my garden in coastal NH this past weekend. A southern species, its appearance this far north is yet another indication of our warming climate.

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Sheila_FW

Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) | November 2011 | Positive

The Giant ST will not survive temps in your area Babe...

As for the length in chrysalis that varies. Some as soon as 10 days other months.

Ginger...Curious as to what you were feeding those taken from your tree?

Yes...Rue is another plant that the GST will lay eggs on and it's larvae eat.

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Babeboone

Oxford, WI | August 2011 | Positive

The Giant Swallowtail has been one of my most exciting finds of 2011. As a new member of SWEBA (Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Assoc.) and the NABA (N. Am. Butterfly Assoc.) I am learning loads on info on all kinds of butterflies and plants in our area. On Sat.s fieldtrip we went to the Avoca Wildlife Area (Avoca WI) where in 1 >20 acre field one could see 20+ Giants with moving a step. We saw more than 40 that day.
Here in WI they feed on Prickly Ash. An undesirable plant. Today I watched a female laying eggs and brought 2 home with me. Word has it they do not over winter in WI. Hopefully I can find out the truth.

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WineofLife

Salem, MO (Zone 6a) | April 2010 | Positive

I have a small tree? in the edge of my Flower Bed in Salem MO. Last year I found several Strange looking Caterpillars on the tree. I didn't know what it was so I took it up to our conservation office, she told me it is called an Orange Dog. This is the Caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail! I have never seen one in person, only in Pictures! I have a Chrysilis that I kept in a Jar over the winter. I don't know what kind of tree they were on, but it is already putting on leaves. Hopefully I'll get to see the Adult when it emerges!!!

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LouC

Desoto, TX (Zone 8a) | July 2009 | Positive

Found 5 of these cats on my citrus trees this week. At first I thought some bird had been there as the camoflage looks very familiar. When I started to brush it off, it moved. Immediately contacted Sheila and she id'd it for me.
Can't wait to find where it is now.

t

tabasco

Cincinnati (Anderson Twp), OH (Zone 6a) | May 2009 | Positive

The Giant Swallowtails aren't restricted just to TX, FL and other citrus growing states. We see them flying through our property here in southwest Ohio, particularly in mid-springtime. The Giant Swallowtail along with the Zebra ST are two of our earliest and most beautiful ST visitors arriving in mid-May in our nectar garden.

We don't have citrus trees to serve as host plants, but we do have lots of Prickly Ash lining the lot lines and they seem to use that for ovipositing. I also have several Ruta graveolens (rue) for them but I haven't noticed them visiting the herb yet.

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ginger4az

Tucson, AZ | October 2008 | Neutral

The orange dog catepillar has eaten up my potted lemon tree! My son has helped me pick them off and is now raising them in his room. How long are they in their chrysalis form?

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karlpalm

Camarillo, CA | November 2007 | Neutral

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.

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sbannister

Kenner, LA | July 2007 | Positive

I live in Kenner, LA, a suburb of New Orleans. I have raised them for the past two summers (2006 & 2007), I find the eggs on a small citrus tree (which has never borne fruit). In 2005, when I returned from evacuating from hurricane katrina, half of my roof was blown off, but an empty crysalis of a giant swallowtail was still attached to the tree by its tiny strands of silk. The tree was bent but after I propped it up, it thrived. Hurricane Rita passed soon after, and the crysalis was still attached. It was stronger than my roof and many other man-made structures! Not only is the giant a beautiful creature, but amazingly tough as well!

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Plowdaddy

Roscoe, TX (Zone 7b) | July 2007 | Neutral

I thought Rue was also a host plant for this butterfly.

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catbird8

Houston, TX | May 2007 | Positive

The Giant is easy to raise. It is the credited by many sources as the largest butterfly in N. America. Some give credit to the Tiger as occasionally reaching the same size. But they are rare. The Thoas comes closer due to its minimum average size of 4". The Giant's size is 3-3/8 - 5-1/2 ". They do lay eggs almost exclusively on citrus in southern climate areas but have other sources in the North.

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nick89

Tallahassee, FL (Zone 8b) | May 2007 | Neutral

One of the most common area swallowtails. A handful of their "orange dogs" were on a Sastuma sapling in the front yard, but have since left. They only seem to eat the new growth and leave old tough citrus leaves alone.

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sueatkins

Brooksville, FL | May 2007 | Neutral

Yes, the caterpillar of the giant swallowtail does rely on leaves of the citrus family. When I was raising them, the females actually preferred to lay eggs on the hercules club tree. I have never noticed any damage to citrus trees by the chomping of the orange dog caterpillar. The chrysalis weathers over winter. I have seem them still in place after hurrican winds of 75 mph. This swallowtail is absolutely glorious to observe as it emerges from the chrysalis, pumps up and dries its wings, and flies off.

M

Magpye

NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) | April 2007 | Neutral

The Giant Swallowtail .. relies solely on plants that are of/in the citrus family for larval (caterpillar) food.

The caterpillar, being called an 'orange dog' .. is approximately 2 inches/5.1 cm in length, and very much resembles the blotchy patterned white & brown bird dropping!

The caterpillar will display an unusual pair of orange antler-like 'scent horns' (osmateria) .. that distribute an offensive odor, when disturbed!!

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renatelynne

Boerne new zone 30, TX (Zone 8b) | September 2006 | Positive

Beautiful to see. I usually se it on my butterfly bush in the middle of a hot day.

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GD_Rankin

San Antonio, TX (Zone 9a) | September 2006 | Positive

According to what I've read, this is the largest butterfly in the United States and Canada. I've only seen a few of these beauties out here this summer and really enjoy watching them. They don't tend to stay in one spot long, so getting a quality photo is very challenging.

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okus

(Zone 8b) | July 2006 | Neutral

Known as Orange Dog by citrus growers it is sometimes considered a citrus pest. Adults take nectar from Lantana Orange Blossom and other flowers.

More common in the South and South Central states than further north.

Giant Swallowtail

Papilio cresphontes

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