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Photo#83370
Giant Swallowtail for California in October - Papilio rumiko

Giant Swallowtail for California in October - Papilio rumiko
Irvine, Orange County, California, USA
October 6, 2006
This awful image is here to show that this insect is indeed flying in October. (Published sources have it otherwise for this area, but indicate Giants year-round in the South.) These individuals are hard to photograph, not often alighting and then generally quite high.

Host plants include rue and citrus. This one flew between a lemon tree - shown - and satsuma.

Glassberg states they came to the Los Angeles area in 1998.

range, observation
I saw one for about one minute today in Santa Barbara County, in foothills on upper Camino Manadero (just W of Santa Barbara proper, and E of Goleta, in an unincorporated area called "Noleta" because they voted against inclusion in the new City of Goleta which has no cachet at all). What's this bug's known range in California? Please tell, if you know.

 
range in Calif.
range in Calif. per BG data.

Moved

Follow-up sighting
October 22, 2006 at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, Los Angeles County, CA

They
are still flying in Tucson also. They nectar at the Lantanas around the house, but haven't been able to shoot one - very uncooperative, but beautiful butterflies.

 
Good to hear that
I suspect they're out and about more than people think. Last year, I didn't see any. This time, I've had maybe ten sightings, including three in my front yard!

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