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Western Giant Swallowtail

Heraclides rumiko

The Western Giant Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with big yellow and black wings. It loves to flutter around gardens and fields, bringing joy with its colorful presence.

Habitat: Urban areas, Gardens

Appearance

The Western Giant Swallowtail is a very large butterfly, primarily yellow with bold, tiger-like black stripes and spots. Its hindwings feature blue and orange eyespots near the distinctive tail-like extensions. This striking pattern helps it stand out.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyPapilionidaeGenusPapilio
Western Giant Swallowtail
Photo: John RosfordCC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
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Western Giant Swallowtail

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

4

Interesting facts

Adults love to 'puddle' by gathering in groups on wet soil to drink mineral-rich water.

Female Western Giant Swallowtails lay their eggs one by one on host plant leaves.

Their caterpillars have special 'suckers' on their legs to cling tightly to leaves, even in the wind.

These giant butterflies can sometimes be mistaken for birds because of their enormous size!

Special abilities

Ability

Stinky Surprise

Western Giant Swallowtail caterpillars can pop out bright orange, foul-smelling 'horns' (osmeteria) from behind their head that helps them scare away predators.

Ability

Master of Flight

Western Giant Swallowtails can soar powerfully on their large wings and glide long distances, helping them find food and mates across wide areas.

Ability

Leafy Camouflage

The adult Western Giant Swallowtail has intricate patterns on its underwings that help them blend perfectly with tree bark and leaves when resting.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
100-160 mm
Size
25-35 mm
Lifespan
30-270 days
Flight Speed
20 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Caterpillars munch on plant leaves, while adults sip sweet flower nectar.

Age differences: Larvae eat leaves of host plants, while adults primarily feed on nectar from flowers.

Primary Foods

  • Citrus leaves
  • Prickly ash leaves (Zanthoxylum americanum)
  • Rue leaves (Ruta graveolens)
  • Nectar from various flowers
  • Sap

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Western 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 Western Giant Swallowtail's wingspan?

100-160 mm

How big is Western Giant Swallowtail?

25-35 mm

How long does Western Giant Swallowtail live?

30-270 days

How fast can Western Giant Swallowtail fly?

20 km/h

What does Western Giant Swallowtail eat?

Caterpillars munch on plant leaves, while adults sip sweet flower nectar.

Where is Western Giant Swallowtail usually found?

Urban areas, Gardens

How does Western Giant Swallowtail hunt?

Foraging

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