what kind of butterfly is this?
September 19, 2009
my son took this wonerful picture of this butterfly in our backyard flower garden. i have never seen a butterfly like this one. maybe you could tell me what kind she is and how we can keep her coming back…
thanks, katy pierce
shreveport, louisiana

Giant Swallowtail

Hi Katy,
This is a Giant Swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes.  In our Los Angeles garden, this species takes nectar from lantana.  It is only in the past ten years that the Giant Swallowtail has expanded its range to include Los Angeles.  The caterpillars, known as Orange Dogs, feed on the leaves of citrus trees, so having a larval food source in your yard will help ensure that the adult butterflies will also be present.  According to BugGuide, the caterpillars also feed on the leaves of common pricklyash and common hoptree.  Since the species is native to North America, those plants were the original foods prior to the introduction of citrus.  With the cultivation of citrus trees in the warmer parts of the west, the range of the butterfly has expanded.

Giant Swallowtail?
September 2, 2009
Hello Bugman,
Thank you for your amazing site.
I have seen this butterfly visiting the flowers on the landana camara (I think the common name is “spanish flag”) bush in our yard. My husband finally managed to get a picture of him/her today (Sept 2).
I checked the markings in Kaufman’s guide, and I think it is a Giant Swallowtail. It has a 5-6 inch wingspan, and the underside of its body is all light yellow, with just the small black streak along the top.
Is it unusual to see one in Los Angeles? It seems we are a little out of its range on the map.
Thank you!
Moira (photo by Simon)
Los Angeles

Giant Swallowtail

Hi Moira,
According to the BioOne website:  “Beginning in the 1960s, the familiar giant swallowtail (Papilo cresphontes) expanded its range into southern California from the east. From 1996 through 2003, at least 23 giant swallowtails were seen at 13 locations in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula, representing the first records of this species in the Mexican state of Baja California.“  We saw our first Los Angeles specimen about six years ago at the Huntington Gardens, and for the past three or four years, we see them in our own Mount Washington garden beginning in August.  One was on the front porch yesterday.

More Black Swallowtail on Long Island, NY
August 22, 2009
Your site was very helpful in identifying a butterfly that has been flying around Bayville NY this summer. I took two more pictures which feel free to add to that section of the site.
This is a female Black Swallowtail flying near a tomato plant, southern exposure. The pictures may not show the yellow spots at the bottom of the tail.
Barry P. from Bayville, N.Y.
Bayville, New York (North Shore of Long Island)

Thanks Barry,
The feeling of movement in your photo is a nice departure from the static images we generally post.

Hi Sirs
Just happened to be on here when your reply came in.
You are very polite about the “feeling of movement”- sorry if it’s a little blurred, but if you are able to use it, feel free. In the past, I have seen Monarch butterflies and sometimes Tiger Swallowtails, but I can’t remember seeing these Black Swallowtails in previous summers. Usually I see them at the dunes on the beach. Our house is about 100 feet from the beach, so some similarities. I can add that we had torrential rain last night so the plants are very moist. This particular butterfly was exploring (sniffing?) a tomato plant, getting very fragrant about now.
I took the picture to send to my daughter, who is in Southern Florida visiting relatives, possibly going to “Butterfly World” near Fort Lauderdale, hence I came on your site (via Google image search for “butterfly” and “Long Island”) to identify the pix before sending to her. She is a teenager now, but used to go there when she was much younger, did a project in school re rain forest in first grade, etc so maybe all this will rekindle her interest in butterflies.
Barry D Parker