Giant Swallowtail Butterfly On Tropical Milkweed

The giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes Cramer, is a striking, wonderfully exotic-looking butterfly that is very abundant in Florida, and is widely distribut...
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The giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes Cramer, is a striking, wonderfully exotic-looking butterfly that is very abundant in Florida, and is widely distributed throughout the American continent. It is active throughout the year in southern Florida, and is common in northern Florida, except in January and February.

Adult giant swallowtails are large butterflies with a forewing span of 11.7 to 17.5 cm) (avg. 14 cm) for males and a span of 13.5 to 18.8 cm (avg. 14.7 cm) for females. The giant swallowtail is very distinct from all other swallowtails found in Florida, except for the endangered Schaus' swallowtail, Papilio aristodemus ponceanus, which is confined to the Florida Keys. The giant swallowtail can be distinguished from the Schaus' swallowtail by the yellow-filled tails (Schaus' swallowtail tails are all black), and the small, brick-red patch just interior to the blue median band on the ventral hind wing.

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