giant swallowtail

Rare stray to Minnesota

Two broods: early May, and late June through August.

Open woodlands, fields, hillsides near streams.

This is a large swallowtail butterfly. It has a wingspan of 4″ to 6¼″.

The upper side of the wings are dark brown, almost black. There are two bands of bright yellow spots, a subapical band and a basal band. The two bands cross near the tips of the forewings, forming an irregular “X” shape. The is an orange spot and blue scale on the inner margin. The hind wings have “tails” with a large, yellow spot.

The underside of the forewing is dark brown with two bands of pale yellow spots large enough to make the wing appear mostly pale yellow. The underside of the hind wing is mostly pale yellow with a median band of orange spots and blue scales.

The body is pale yellow.

The caterpillar is shiny dark brown with three white spots, mimicking a fresh bird dropping.

In Minnesota, common hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata ssp. trifoliata) and northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum).

Flower nectar.

Females lay single eggs on the leaves of host plants.

It overwinters as a chrysalis.

This is the largest butterfly in North America north of Mexico.

A surprise in my zinnia garden

Giant Swallowtail last summer 2018

This lovely butterfly floated around our front yard, and stopped long enough in the sunshine for me to take a photo (admittedly, a phone shot), then floated away again

Amazing color. HUGE compared to the other moths and butterflies in the garden.

Location: Ramsey, MN

Location: SW of Annandale, MN

The first time I have seen this lovely butterfly. It flitted throughout my garden for quite a while visiting mostly phlox and hydrangeas.

Location: Independence, MN

First ever sighting in my yard.  On Meadow Blazing Star after it took over from Monarch.  Monarch flying around waiting for it to leave.

Location: Ham Lake, MN

we always have yellow swallowtails but I ve never seen one like this before. 

Location: Minnetrista, MN

I have lots of butterflies in my garden that I can identify or have seen before, but this was a first for me.  They are so big!  He was enjoying the phlox and balloon flowers in my garden this afternoon.

Location: Olmsted

A surprise in my zinnia garden

Location: Maple Grove, MN

Location: Southwest Minneapolis

Flying into a stiff southern breeze, heading toward the phlox along the driveway.

Location: Saint Paul

I did not see the butterfly, but I had 7 eggs, and now 7 little caterpillars on my rue plant. First time ever!

Location: 6 miles south of Prior Lake in Scott County

This lovely butterfly floated around our front yard, and stopped long enough in the sunshine for me to take a photo (admittedly, a phone shot), then floated away again

Location: Wyoming, MN

Feeding on coral colored phlox

Location: White Bear Lake. Ramsey County, MN

Location: near Miesville MN

Observed three giant swallowtails at one time in garden at Pioneer Village!

Location: Bloomington, MN

I took photos for several minutes of this swallowtail on my purple coneflowers. At one point, it sat beside a monarch on the same flower.

Location: Lake Elmo

Amazing color. HUGE compared to the other moths and butterflies in the garden.

Location: Brooklyn Park, Mn

What a sight to see! My first encounter...loved those moments...Wow!

Location: Eagan, Mn

Stayed a long time feeding from my lantana

Location: Saint Charles, MN

Beautiful! Large dusty brown/black with soft yellow markings seen in my flower beds on geranium and petunia blooms

Location: Albertville. MN, south side of Cedar Creek Golf Course

Fantastic! Amazing sunny day. It was eating nectar from my hanging baskets of petunias.

Location: Stillwater, MN

Location: South Minneapolis near 40th and 40th

11:30 AM

Location: Savage, MN

Seen in our wooded backyard in Savage around noon on 8/4/14.