Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes Cramer, 1777In need of conservation  -  S2 (State rare)    Synonyms: Hodges #4170, Papilio cresphontes.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Papilionidae   >   Genus Heraclides   

Status:

The aptly-named Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) shows two thick yellow wing bands on the upperwings that cross to form a distinctive 'x' near the wingtips. The underside is extensively pale yellow. This southern species is localized and uncommon in Maryland (ranked as S2-state rare), but is known to wander widely. Most common In Montgomery and Frederick Counties. Giant Swallowtail has two broods in Maryland, from May to June, and from late July into August (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith; Brock & Kaufman 2003).

Relationships:

In our area, Giant Swallowtails use Common Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata) and Common Pricklyash (Zanthoxylum americanum) as host plants.

There are 90 records in the project database.

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A Giant Swallowtail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/10/2005). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in Washington Co., Maryland (7/28/2022). (c) Jim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/10/2019). Photo by Diane Ford. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/31/2021). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail nectering on thistle in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/19/2014). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/14/2015). Photo by Kimberly Booth. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/23/2017). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in Washington Co., Maryland (7/18/2018). (c) jrcagle, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by jrcagle via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A worn Giant Swallowtail visiting a garden in Columbia, Maryland (9/3/2012). Photo by John McKitterick. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in flight along with Tiger Swallowtails over a beaver carcass in Washington Co., Maryland (5/21/2021). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/24/2008). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail caterpillar in Washington Co., Maryland (8/9/2019). Photo by Mark Eanes. (MBP list)

A Giant Swallowtail caterpillar in Washington Co., Maryland (8/9/2019). Photo by Mark Eanes. (MBP list)

Giant Swallowtail in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)


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