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Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Content is no longer being updated and may contain broken links. |
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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies Lepidoptera Papilionidae Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail |
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Size:
wingspread 3.75-5 in. Recognition: Large; dramatic pattern of mostly black with horizontal yellow bands that slice through both FW and HW; also yellow spot band that extends down wings; red crescent on inner bottom of HW; long tail with yellow spot on the end. Flight Period: Adults are active from March to October. Hostplants: The larvae of the Giant Swallowtail feed on citrus trees (orange, lemon, grapefruit) in California, but in other areas of distribution use many other foodplants within the citrus family (Rutaceae). Habitat: Citrus groves, woodlands, along fencerows, streamsides, parks, suburban yards, and gardens. Distribution: Occurs throughout the central, eastern, and southern U.S., south into the tropics. Probably expanded its range into our area with cultivated citrus. It is now relatively rare in our area, being more common from Los Angeles County southeastward. 
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