Papilio cresphontes, Giant Swallowtail?
Location: Hawthorne, CA
October 12, 2011 3:11 pm
Hi again,
I also had a chance this morning to get some pictures of what I think is a Giant Swallowtail. Am I correct? Do you know how to tell if this male or female?
Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon
Good Morning Anna,
Your photos are making us jealous that we need to go to work during the week and we are missing the opportunity to enjoy our own garden during these glorious Southern California fall days. This is indeed a Giant Swallowtail. To the best of our knowledge, there is no easy way to distinguish males from females. That might require examination of the genitalia.
Hi Daniel,
I just remembered that I read somewhere that the male of this species tends to flutter it’s wings when feeding, so that may be a way to tell the difference between male & female.
Anna
It is difficult to see a flutter in a still photograph though.
Hi Daniel,
It’s wings were indeed fluttering. I remember wondering if I would get a good photo.
Anna