The Giant Swallowtail, native to various regions of North America, is considered the largest butterfly on the continent. With wings open, it displays bold black wings marked by a striking yellow band that runs horizontally across the forewings. When the wings are closed, the underside reveals a mix of black and yellow, accented by patches of red and blue. In females, the yellow bands tend to be narrower and include a black spot on the third yellow oval from the tip of the wing. Males lack this black spot, and their yellow band is typically broader.

 

“Giant Swallowtail Butterfly” by Jim Mullhaupt, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Giant Swallowtail Facts

Butterfly Family: Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Papilioninae

Butterfly Wingspan: 4 – 6 1/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Many locales including rocky and sandy hillsides near streams or gullies in the north; pine flats, towns, and citrus groves in the south

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Common Rue (Ruta graveolens)

• Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata)

• Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Giant Swallowtail butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of native flowers:

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)

• Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)