Eastern Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Description:

The giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes Cramer, is a striking , wonderfully "exotic"-looking butterfly that is very abundant in Florida. The adult butterfly is a welcome visitor to butterfly gardens and to general landscape plantings. The larval or caterpillar stage can be considered a pest due to its habit of feeding on the foliage of most Citrus species. A few "orangedogs", as the larvae are commonly called, can quickly defoliate small or young plants. However, larvae can be tolerated on large dooryard citrus trees in order to enjoy the soon-to-develop magnificent adult butterfly stage. http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures...

Habitat:

Wetlands

Notes:

4000th spotting - on to 5000!