# Eastern Giant Swallowtail (*Heraclides cresphontes*) The Eastern Giant Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with large yellow and black wings. It flutters gracefully in gardens and fields, making it a delightful sight for everyone! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 36 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Giant Swallowtail ![Eastern Giant Swallowtail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Giant_swallowtail.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Cary Bass, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_swallowtail.jpeg) ## Appearance The Eastern Giant Swallowtail is a large black butterfly with bright yellow spots arranged in diagonal bands across its wings. Its hindwings have striking blue spots near the tails and distinct orange eye-spots. This pattern makes it visually distinct from smaller, less vibrantly marked swallowtails. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Papilionidae - **Genus:** Papilio ## Interesting facts - Adult butterflies can taste with their feet to find the best flowers for nectar! - Giant Swallowtails can migrate short distances, sometimes flying hundreds of miles! - Its caterpillars love to eat citrus leaves, making them garden pests! - Male swallowtails patrol high in trees looking for mates before swooping down! ## Special abilities - **Disguise Master:** Eastern Giant Swallowtail caterpillars can mimic bird droppings because of their mottled brown, white, and black coloration that helps them avoid predators. - **Stinky Defender:** Eastern Giant Swallowtail caterpillars have an osmeterium, a retractable orange Y-shaped gland, that helps them spray a foul-smelling chemical to deter attackers. - **Master Nectar Sipper:** The Eastern Giant Swallowtail has a long proboscis, a straw-like tongue, that helps them reach deep nectar in flowers for energy. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 100-160 mm - **Size:** 30-40 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adults sip sweet nectar from flowers for energy! - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed on host plant leaves, while adults exclusively drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Citrus leaves, Prickly Ash leaves, Hop Tree leaves, Lantana nectar, Milkweed nectar, Thistle nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins prey on both caterpillars and adult butterflies. - **Depends on:** [Orange Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orange-tree) (*Citrus sinensis*) — Caterpillars eat the leaves of this tree for food and shelter. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adult butterflies visit flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination. - **Eaten by:** [Paper Wasp](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paper-wasp) (*Polistes metricus*) — Wasps hunt and feed swallowtail caterpillars to their young. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch butterflies from a distance so they don't get scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Giant Swallowtail? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Eastern Giant Swallowtail's wingspan? 100-160 mm ### How big is Eastern Giant Swallowtail? 30-40 mm ### How long does Eastern Giant Swallowtail live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Eastern Giant Swallowtail fly? 20 km/h ### What does Eastern Giant Swallowtail eat? Caterpillars munch on leaves, while adults sip sweet nectar from flowers for energy! ### Where is Eastern Giant Swallowtail usually found? Urban areas ### How does Eastern Giant Swallowtail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Giant Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-giant-swallowtail) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Eastern Giant Swallowtail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-giant-swallowtail)