Giant Swallowtail* - The Butterfiles - ERCA Traditional Cache

This series "The Butterfiles" will highlight some of the butterflies you will see along the green way the ones marked with an * are rare/imperilled in the region so if you see them please take note of where and report to ERCA or Ojibway park. Be prepared to do some bush whacking to claim the find.

Caterpillar	Pupa	Butterfly

The largest butterfly found in Canada (wingspan: 83 to 113 mm),the Giant Swallowtail has broad dark brown wings crossed on the upperside by a diagonal band of bright yellow spots. The underside is yellowish and the tail is broad with a yellow spot in the center

Abundance: It is considered sporadic and rare in Canada,except in southwestern Ontario, where it can be commonly encountered at Point Pelee, Pelee Island, and a few other locations where the foodplants grow.

Flight Season: Two generations have been recorded at its northern limit, the second being the more common. It flies from late May into July and again from late July into early September. At Point Pelee there is a partial third brood later in September,but cresphontes is most commonly seen in August (Wormington,1983).

Habits: The Giant Swallowtail flies in open woodlands and nearby fields. It is such a large butterfly that it continually vibrates its wings while feeding at flowers so that it does not tilt the blossom.