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Species Papilio cresphontes - Eastern Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170

Giant Swallowtail final instar larva - Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio cresphontes Bird Poo cat - Papilio cresphontes WI061112 jec - Papilio cresphontes Caterpillar Eggs Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes Pipevine swallowtail? - Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes Mystery bug  - Papilio cresphontes
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)
Subfamily Papilioninae
Tribe Papilionini (Fluted Swallowtails)
Genus Papilio
Species cresphontes (Eastern Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170)
Hodges Number
4170
Other Common Names
Orange Dog (larva in southern orange groves), Eastern Giant Swallowtail (1)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Heraclides cresphontes--a split from genus Papilio
Explanation of Names
Papilio cresphontes Cramer, 1777
Size
83-140 mm wingspan
Identification
Adult: "Black with a yellow X on the front wing and basal and subapical bands on the hind wing. Usually easily distinguished from P. thoas by the lower three spots in the outer row on the front wing being much larger than the rest and running (at the top) into a distinct offset in the second row. [In P. thoas the lower four or five spots in the outer row are fairly even in size, tapering gradually down in size upward; not running into an offset in the second row at the third spot.]

Larva: brown or blackish with pale cream or whitish saddle in middle, and large cream patch on tail, imitating bird poop in coloration; when disturbed, extends orange-red osmeteria from behind head and emits sour unpleasant odor
Range
e. N. Amer. to c. TX - Map (1)
Habitat
open woodlands and nearby fields, rocky and sandy hillsides near streams or gullies in the north; pine flats, towns, and citrus groves in the south
Season
adults fly all year in the far south; two flights in the north from May to September
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of plants in the Citrus family (Rutaceae), including Citrus (Citrus spp.), Pricklyash (Zanthoxylum spp.), Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), Rue (Ruta graveolens), etc. Adults take flower nectar from a variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs
Life Cycle
eggs are laid singly on host leaves and twigs; at least two generations per year; overwinters in pupa stage inside a chrysalis

1. Egg. 2. Egg and first instar caterpillar. 3. Caterpillar. 4. Caterpillar in defensive posture. 5. Caterpillar ready to pupate. 6. Pupa. 7. Adult.

Remarks
Often cited as the largest butterfly in the United States and Canada."(2) However, the Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) averages larger.
See Also
Thoas Swallowtail, Papilio thoas, has western distribution and smaller spots in lower outside leg of "X" on upperside of forewing
Schaus' Swallowtail (Papilio aristodemus, - rare, S. Florida only) has narrower pale band.
Print References
Arnett & Jacques (2)
Internet References
pinned adult image plus description, biology, larval and adult food, US distribution map (Butterflies and Skippers of North America, nearctica.com)
live images of all life stages plus description, larval foodplants, distribution, flight season, habitat (Butterflies of Canada, CBIF)
Works Cited
1.A new Heraclides swallowtail (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from North America is recognized by the pattern on its neck.
Kojiro Shiraiwa, Qian Cong, Nick V. Grishin. 2014. ZooKeys 468: 85-135.
2.Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques. 1981. Fireside.