the franklin mountain woodland snail ( ashmunella pasonis ) is a species of land snail in the family polygyridae .

it is native to new mexico and texas in the united states .

franklin mountain woodland snail

bonham , k . and taylor , r . j . ( 1997 ) distribution and habitat of the land snail
lindenmayer , d . b . and franklin , j . f . ( 1996 )
learn more about woodland caribou and share that knowledge . a little knowledge can go a long way to create understanding and appreciation for woodland caribou .
solem , a . and mckenzie , n . l . ( 1991 ) the composition of land snail assemblages in kimberley rainforests . in
franklin , j . f . ( 1993 ) preserving biodiversity : species , ecosystems or landscapes .
in general , species of woodland snails are sensitive to long periods of dessication .
in the mountain national parks , five key threats to caribou populations have been identified .
woodland caribou have a good sense of smell , useful for finding lichen under the snow .
on - going research is creating greater understanding of the complex relationships at play in mountain ecosystems .
talus slopes , usually of limestone , but also of rhyolite , sandstone and siltstone , in arid mountain ranges .
lindenmayer , d . b . and franklin , j . f . ( 1999 ) managing unreserved forest for biodiversity conservation : the importance of matrix . in
why protect woodland caribou ? woodland caribou are just one strand in an ecosystem’s complex fabric of relationships . if this strand disappears , how many others will follow ? woodland caribou are symbols of the need for balance in a country defined by both its untouched wilderness and its natural resource extraction . what will our canada look like in the future and will there still be a place for caribou ?
documented from two isolated mountain ranges in southwest texas and south - central new mexico . the southern population is in the franklin mountains , elpaso county , texas and dona ana county , new mexico . the northern population is in the san andres mountains , sierra and dona ana counties , new mexico .
environment canada is leading the development of a sara compliant recovery strategy , to guide recovery of the southern mountain population of woodland caribou in canada . parks canada is participating in the development of this strategy . the recovery strategy will be developed in cooperation and consultation with partners and stakeholders , and will be followed by one or more action plans for the population . parks canada is also legally responsible for the protection and management of southern mountain populations of woodland caribou on national park lands in canada , under the canada national parks act .
neumann , f . g . ( 1991 ) responses of litter arthropods to major natural or artificial ecological disturbances in mountain ash forest .
education and awareness are key to fostering concern and action in caribou recovery . parks canada continues to provide meaningful opportunities for people to learn about woodland caribou . parks canada website content aims to keep the public informed on current issues and actions in terms of species at risk like the woodland caribou . within the four mountain national parks , educational materials are available from general information handouts to interpretive panels in key areas of the parks . parks canada and other educational partners provide opportunities for students to learn about woodland caribou through both hands - on in class presentations and remote learning experiences .
woodland caribou found in jasper , banff , mount revelstoke , and glacier national parks belong to the southern mountain population , distinct from most other woodland caribou in their use of mountain habitat . they do not migrate like many other caribou but rather move elevationally in response to seasonal changes . even within the southern mountain population , this elevational migration differs regionally in response to very different climates . mount revelstoke and glacier national parks are in the columbia mountain range , characterized by heavy snowfall in winter . caribou in this region have adapted to take advantage of the deep snow , using this added height to reach lichen growing in the trees . jasper and banff national parks in the rocky mountains are in a much drier climate and rarely get the snow depths seen in revelstoke and glacier . caribou in these areas have adapted to searching out terrestrial lichens under the snow , and will descend in elevation as snow levels accumulate .
metcalf a . l . and w . e . johnson . 1971 . gastropods of the franklin mountains , el paso county , texas . the sw naturalist 16 ( 1 ) : 85 - 109 .
woodland / shrubland map units were defined as those ecological systems and land uses containing a majority of short , scrubby , woody vegetation or sparsely canopied treed vegetation .
woodland caribou found in jasper , banff , mount revelstoke , and glacier national parks belong to the southern mountain population listed as threatened under canada’s species at risk act ( sara ) . within the southern mountain population at least one herd has been extirpated ( no longer exists in that area ) and several other herds are at risk of disappearing . the status of these caribou herds varies throughout the different regions and each herd faces distinct challenges on the road to successful recovery .
caribou conservation actions will vary between the four mountain national parks of jasper , banff , mount revelstoke and glacier , recognizing the unique circumstances in each park .
( 250 - 20 , 000 square km ( about 100 - 8000 square miles ) ) documented from two isolated mountain ranges in southwest texas and south - central new mexico . the southern population is in the franklin mountains , elpaso county , texas and dona ana county , new mexico . the northern population is in the san andres mountains , sierra and dona ana counties , new mexico .
( mountain ash ) forest in the central highlands , victoria , vsp technical report no . 17 , silvicultural systems project , department of conservation and natural resources , melbourne .
koch , l . e . and majer , j . d . ( 1980 ) a phenological investigation of various invertebrates in forest and woodland areas in the southwest of western australia .
outside the mountain national parks , habitat loss is a major threat to woodland caribou . within the parks , there is the potential for habitat loss due to fires . while fire plays an important role in ecosystem health , biologists are working with parks canada fire and vegetation specialists to minimize potential impacts to caribou habitat . changes to human use of caribou habitat in the mountain national parks could also affect use of these areas by caribou . a secondary effect of habitat loss is changes in the predator / prey dynamic , as described above .
parks canada is committed to protecting woodland caribou and their habitat , and to contributing to their recovery . the conservation strategy for woodland caribou , southern mountain population , on parks canada lands has been created to guide caribou conservation measures in the mountain national parks . many actions have been implemented to reduce threats to caribou populations including seasonal closures of important caribou wintering habitat such as the cavell road closure in jasper national park and the mount klotz area closure in mount revelstoke national park ; strategic elk management plans to restore the predator - prey balance in jasper and banff national parks ; and establishing caribou crossing zones to reduce vehicle speeds on the icefields parkway in jasper . these and other actions are being monitored to gauge their effectiveness .
ongoing scientific research and monitoring of caribou , wolf , and elk populations is creating greater understanding of the complex relationships within mountain ecosystems . this knowledge helps guide sound management decisions and the implementation of effective recovery measures .
lindenmayer , d . b . , incoll , r . d . , cunningham , r . b . and donnelly , c . f . ( 1999 ) attributes of logs on the floor of australian mountain ash (
woodland caribou are a subspecies of caribou found in the boreal forests and mountain regions of canada from newfoundland to british columbia . they are a medium sized member of the deer family , rich brown in colour with white necks . unlike the great herds of barren - ground caribou to the north , woodland caribou are usually found in groups of only up to ten to twenty - five animals . during the fall rut season , one male will try to gather a larger group of females together while keeping other males away . female caribou are usually three years old before they have their first calf and only have one calf per year . calves are born in late may or early june .
the genetic relationships of the species of ashmunella from the franklin mountains , el paso county , texas northward through the san andres mountains , sierra county , new mexico needs to be studied to understand the relatedness and distinctness of the species . basic information on the ecology of the species is also needed .
the protection needs of the southernmost subspecies should be determined by assessing the threat of quarrying and urban development in that mountain range . the national wildlife refuge and u . s . army installation should develop protection plans for talus slope snails as a group .
woodland caribou are an indicator of the health of our forests . if these forests can no longer support a species that has been here for thousands of years , it is a likely indication that other forest species are also in trouble . a rich diversity of species is reflective of a healthy and functioning ecosystem .
quarrying and possibly urban development are threats to one of the subspecies on the single mountain where it occurs . the greatest threat to the species may be climate warming . while range contraction due to climate warming since the pleistocene has not been documented for this species , it has been documented for many other species in the genus , a genus restricted to the arid southwest .
harmon , m . e . , franklin , j . f . , swanson , f . j . , sollins , p . , gregory , s . v . , lattin , j . d . , anderson , n . h . , cline , s . p . , aumen , n . g . , sedell , j . r . , lienkaemper , g . w . , cromack , k . jr . and cummins , k . w . ( 1986 ) ecology of coarse woody debris in temperate ecosystems .
forest / open ecotone + woodlands / shrublands – the forest / open only ecotone does not consider environments with sparse canopies or scrubby vegetation , therefore this data layer includes woodland and shrubland map units that would otherwise be ignored . this dataset uses 2 data layers in tandem . the forest / open ecotone and the woodlands / shrublands ( i . e . , wlsl ) are calculated individually and then combined to depict a landscape that includes both ecotones .
forest and ecotone habitats the ecotone ( i . e . , edge ) between forested and non - forested environments can be a critical aspect of habitat . we grouped map units into forested , non - forested , and shrubland / woodland land cover types to create unique data layers . these data layers can then be buffered at specified distances to identify species habitats . aggregated map units can be compared and contrasted to identify areas of transition between these broad categories . they can also be used to identify core areas or contiguous blocks of similar type ( i . e . , interior ) through buffering .
outside of the national parks , the primary cause of decline in woodland caribou populations is likely habitat loss . mining , logging , oil and gas exploration and even excessive motorized recreation have all contributed to a fragmented and altered landscape often leading to increased populations of deer , moose , elk , and their predators . caribou require large areas of land with low densities of predators ; it is part of their anti - predator strategy : live in places where others don’t . they also require stands of old growth forest that support the growth of lichen and offer them protection from predators . as caribou numbers decline , increased predation and even natural events such as an avalanche can have devastating effects .
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turgeon , d . d . , j . f . quinn , jr . , a . e . bogan , e . v . coan , f . g . hochberg , w . g . lyons , p . m . mikkelsen , r . j . neves , c . f . e . roper , g . rosenberg , b . roth , a . scheltema , f . g . thompson , m . vecchione , and j . d . williams . 1998 . common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the united states and canada : mollusks . 2nd edition . american fisheries society special publication 26 , bethesda , maryland : 526 pp .
ranking factors were given equal weight . the relatively narrow range of the species could justify a range - rank of g2g3 .
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24 documented occurrences ( metcalf and johnson , 1971 ; metcalf and smartt , 1997 ) .
based on number of shells of recently dead individuals at sites , it is estimated to be relatively common where it occurs .
species in the genus are restricted to mountains in the arid southwest . for many species , including this one , a broader distribution of fossil shells than live individuals indicates range contraction .
occurrences are based on some evidence of historical or current presence of single or multiple specimens , including live specimens or recently dead shells ( i . e . , soft tissue still attached without signs of external weathering or staining ) , at a given location with potentially recurring existence . weathered shells constitute a historic occurrence . evidence is derived from reliable published observation or collection data ; unpublished , though documented ( i . e . government or agency reports , web sites , etc . ) observation or collection data ; or museum specimen information .
use the generic guidelines for the application of occurrence ranks ( 2008 ) . the key for ranking species occurrences using the generic approach provides a step - wise process for implementing this method .
zoological data developed by natureserve and its network of natural heritage programs ( see local programs ) and other contributors and cooperators ( see sources ) .
metcalf , a . l . 1984 . distribution of land snails of the san andreas and organ mountains , southern new mexico . the southwestern naturalist 29 ( 1 ) : 35 - 44 .
metcalf , a . l . and r . a . smartt . 1997 . land snails of new mexico . bulletin of the new mexico museum of natural history and science , 10 : 1 - 145 .
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the caribou design is featured on the 25 cent circulation coin from the royal canadian mint . it was created by canadian artist emmanuel hahn and was first used in 1937 © royal canadian mint
lichens are a caribou ' s primary food source in winter . in the summer , grasses , broad - leaved plants and herbs are added to the menu .
when caribou run . . . they click ! the sound comes from tendons slipping over bones in their feet . a trotting herd of caribou sounds like a horde of tourists with cameras .
the current distribution of boreal caribou is shown in green . the estimated southern extent of historical caribou distribution is indicated by the dashed line .
young calf in jasper national park . females usually give birth to a single calf in late may or early june .
it is unlikely that any caribou remain after a large avalanche in 2009 killed the last five individuals remaining in that herd .
two caribou herds have ranges that extend into parts of mount revelstoke and glacier national parks ; the columbia south herd and the duncan herd . there are approximately 6 caribou left in each herd . population monitoring and protection is carried out in cooperation with the bc ministry of forests and bc ministry of environment .
herd , estimated at less than 100 caribou , spends most of its time outside of the national park . in recent years surveys suggest the a la peche population has been declining . three additional herds of caribou are found in the southern part of jasper national park , spending most , if not all their time within the national park . the three herds use distinct regions of the park and rarely interact . in total , their numbers are estimated at approximately 55 animals and have been declining . the largest herd in south jasper is the tonquin herd located in the tonquin valley . the other two herds , maligne and brazeau , both have less than 10 animals .
when so few caribou remain , any number killed by vehicles is too many .
the key survival strategy of caribou is to live in areas that have few predators , especially wolves . caribou’s unique adaptations allow them to live in habitat that is unsuitable for other prey such as elk and deer , and therefore less attractive to predators . the deer and elk populations in the surrounding areas do however still affect the size of the predator populations , and as a result can increase the risk of predation on caribou . in jasper and banff national .
caribou are naturally adapted to travel in deep snow giving them an advantage over wolves and other predators in winter . by staying in areas of deep snow caribou can effectively avoid predation as most predators cannot travel through snow as easily .
as has been shown in many other species , very small populations are more likely to decline than to increase . even if recovery actions reduce the previous threats , some populations are likely too small to be sustained without the addition of more caribou . the loss of any animal from such small herds can be devastating and random events such as a large avalanche could wipe them out entirely .
banff national park , conservation will require the re - introduction of caribou . research in the park indicates that the translocation of caribou could be used to successfully establish a new herd . caribou habitat remains intact and plentiful within the historic range , and does not face the pressure of high human use or development .
the most significant cause of decline leading to the extirpation of caribou in banff national park is likely the increased numbers of predators in response to an inflated elk population . monitoring of elk and wolf populations shows both these populations have declined , suggesting that conditions are favourable to support the persistence of introduced caribou .
while conditions may be favourable , finding a sufficient number of caribou is the challenge . a wild source herd that is stable enough to support the translocation of animals for this and / or other recovery initiatives has not been found . the alternative is to breed caribou in captivity and release yearlings and / or family groups to the wild . banff national park biologists have taken the lead on exploring this option in partnership with other parks canada scientists , universities , and experts in the field . it has been determined that captive rearing would be a feasible option and suitable facilities have been investigated . if implemented , the translocation of these caribou to the wild would be combined with the management of elk populations and on - going monitoring of wolf pack movements to increase the probability of success in bringing caribou back to the wilderness of banff national park .
in jasper national park , caribou conservation actions will aim to reduce the 5 key threats and stem population declines in the southern herd . these recovery actions will require the support of other parks canada experts in areas like elk and fire management , and of recreationists and other park users when recovery actions may affect recreational opportunities . within the southern jasper population , two herds of caribou are already low in numbers , isolated and declining . to become self - sustaining , these herds will require augmentation with additional caribou . jasper national park biologists have also been very involved in the captive rearing research , and feasibility assessments that have been carried out in banff . similar to banff , if implemented , herd augmentations would be combined with the management of elk populations and on - going monitoring of wolf pack movements . conservation actions for the northern a la peche herd will require cooperative management with the alberta provincial government and commercial operators in the area .
because very few of the columbia south herd make use of parks canada lands , conservation actions will be largely guided by provincial and commercial partnerships and / or initiatives . within mount revelstoke and glacier national parks actions will focus on protecting important habitat , minimizing direct disturbance of caribou , monitoring and research , and careful fire management . partnerships with the province of british columbia will also be explored .
if you visit jasper , banff , mount revelstoke , or glacier national parks , stop by the visitor centre to find out how and where you can learn more about caribou in these parks .
travel responsibly in caribou habitat . if you see caribou , keep your distance to lessen your impact on the animals and avoid displacing them .
leave your dog at home when venturing into caribou habitat . any dog , regardless of whether or not it looks like a wolf , can cause unnecessary stress for caribou .
be part of the scientific monitoring – report your sightings to the visitor centre ! where , how many , did you notice calves , and do you have photos ? avoid important caribou habitat in winter - there are many other beautiful places to explore . ask at the local visitor centre .
be a good steward of your land and support the efforts of organisations that help protect the environment . try to reduce your ecological footprint .
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( m . l . hunter , ed . ) , pp . 335 - 72 . cambridge : cambridge university press .
mccomb , w . c . and noble , r . e . ( 1982 ) invertebrate use of natural tree cavities and vertebrate nest boxes .
mcgeoch , m . a . ( 1998 ) the selection , testing and application of terrestrial insects as bioindicators .
mciver , j . d . , moldenke , a . r . and parsons , g . l . ( 1990 ) litter spiders as bio - indicators of recovery after clearcutting in a western coniferous forest .
michaels , k . f . and mcquillan , p . b . ( 1995 ) impact of commercial forest management on geophilous carabid beetles ( coleoptera , carabidae ) in tall , wet
niemela , j . , haila , y . , halme , e . , lahti , t . , pajunen , t . and punttila , p . ( 1988 ) the distribution of carabid beetles in fragments of old coniferous taiga and adjacent managed forest .
niemela , j . , langor , d . and spence , j . r . ( 1993a ) effects of clearcut harvesting on boreal ground - beetle assemblages ( coleoptera : carabidae ) in western canada .
niemela , j . , spence , j . r . , langor , d . , haila , y . and tukia , h . ( 1993b ) logging and boreal ground - beetle assemblages on two continents , implications for conservation . in
( k . j . gaston , t . r . new and m . j . samways , eds ) , pp . 29 - 50 . hampshire : intercept ltd .
niemi , g . j . , hanowski , j . m . , lima , a . r . , nicholls , t . and weiland , n . ( 1997 ) a critical analysis on the use of indicator species in management .
nilsson , s . g . and baranowski , r . ( 1997 ) habitat predictability and the occurrence of wood beetles in old - growth beech forests .
noss , r . f . ( 1990 ) indicators for monitoring biodiversity : a hierarchial approach .
( g . h . aplet , n . johnson , j . t . olson and v . a . sample , eds ) , pp . 17 - 43 . washington , dc : island press .
noss , r . f . ( 1999 ) assessing and monitoring forest biodiversity : a suggested framework and indicators .
økland , b . ( 1996 ) unlogged forests , important sites for preserving the diversity of mycetophilids ( diptera , sciaroidea ) .
økland , b . , bakke , a . , hagvar , s . and kvamme , t . ( 1996 ) what factors influence the diversity of saproxylic beetles ? amultiscaled study from a spruce forest in southern norway .
pajunen , t . , haila , y . , halme , e . , niemela , j . and punttila , p . ( 1995 ) ground - dwelling spiders ( arachnida , araneae ) in fragmented old forests and surrounding managed forests in southern finland .
paquin , p . and coderre , d . ( 1997 ) changes in soil macroarthropod communities in relation to forest maturation through three successional stages in the canadian boreal forest .
pettersson , r . b . , ball , j . p . , renhorn , k . - e . , esseen , p - e . and sjoberg , k . ( 1995 ) invertebrate communities in boreal forest canopies as influenced by forestry and lichens with implications for passerine birds .
ponder , w . f . , colgan , d . j . , clark , g . a . , miller , a . c . and terzis , t . ( 1994 ) microgeographic , genetic and morphical differentiation of freshwater snails - the hydrobiidae of wilsons promontory , victoria , south - eastern australia .
punttila , p . , haila , y . , niemela , j . and pajunen , t . ( 1994 ) ant communities in fragments of old - growth taiga and managed surroundings .
punttila , p . , haila , y . and tukia , h . ( 1996 ) ant communities in taiga clearcuts : habitat effects and species interactions .
reid , c . m . , foggo , a . and speight , m . ( 1996 ) dead wood in the caledonian pine forest .
samuelsson , j . , gustafsson , l . and ingelog , t . ( 1994 )
schowalter , t . d . ( 1989 ) canopy arthropod community structure and herbivory in old - growth and regenerating forests in western oregon .
schowalter , t . d . ( 1995 ) canopy arthropod communities in relation to forest age and alternative harvest practices in western oregon .
seastedt , t . r . ( 1984 ) the role of microarthropods in decomposition and mineralisation processes .
seastedt , t . r . and crossley , d . a . jr . ( 1981 ) microarthropod response following cable logging and clear - cutting in the southern appalachians .
seppa , p . , sundstrom , l . and puntilla , p . ( 1995 ) facultative polygyny and habitat succession in boreal ants .
setala , h . , marshall , v . g . and trofymow , j . a . ( 1995 ) influence of micro - and macro - habitat factors on collembolan communities in douglas - fir stumps during forest succession .
simandl , j . ( 1993 ) canopy arthropods on scots pine , influence of season and stand age on community structure and the position of sawflies ( diprionidae ) in the community .
( n . l . mckenzie , r . b . johnston , p . g . kendrick , eds ) , pp . 247 - 63 . chipping norton : surrey beatty and sons .
spence , j . r . , langor , d . w . , niemela , j . , carcamo , h . a . and currie , c . r . ( 1996 ) northern forestry and carabids , the case for concern about old - growth species .
strayer , d . , pletscher , d . h . , hamburg , s . p . and nodvin , s . c . ( 1986 ) the effects of forest disturbance on land gastropod communities in northern new england .
taylor , r . j . , michaels , k . and bashford , d . ( 2001 ) occurrence of carabid beetles in retained unlogged strips in production forests in southern tasmania . in
( n . mitchell and d . a . saunders , eds ) , pp . 120 - 7 . chipping norton : surrey beatty and sons .
triska , f . j . and cromack , k . jr . ( 1980 ) the role of wood debris in forests and streams . in
vaisanen , r . , bistrom , o . and heliovaara , k . ( 1993 ) sub - cortical coleoptera in dead pines and spruces , is primeval species composition maintained in managed forests ?
yen , a . l . ( 1987 ) a preliminary assessment of the correlation between plant , vertebrate and coleoptera communities in the victorian mallee . in
( j . d . majer , ed . ) , pp . 73 - 88 . perth : department of conservation and land management .
yen , a . l . and butcher , r . j . ( 1997 )
york , a . ( 1999 ) ecologically sustainable management : the utility of habitat surrogates for assessing terrestrial invertebrate diversity in temperate forests . in
( w . ponder and d . lunney , eds ) , pp . 34 - 9 . mosman : royal zoological society of new south wales .
taylor , r . j . & doran , n . journal of insect conservation ( 2001 ) 5 : 221 . urltoken
please note that we are currently undergoing a data review process and not all species data will be available for download and viewing from this web page . please watch this web page for future updates on the status of data availability .
download ancillary data > > ( land cover , forest edge , human impact , etc . )
download additional data > > ( slope , aspect , canopy cover , etc . )
note : you must first choose a species , then click distribution or range buttons to begin download of zip file containing selected data .
to spatially view the range data in gis , you will need to download the hydrologic units file geodatabase and join with the species range table . see the instructions for joining hucs to species range tables for details .
below is a list of the ancillary data available for download . see the info section below for more information on each ancillary dataset . ancillary data is delivered as zipped arcgis grids .
part 1 : landcover , elevation , human impact avoidance , forest edge and forest / open ecotone + woodlands / shrublands click here to download . file size : 5 gb .
note : data are divided up by species modeling regions and you will need 7zip to decompress the files .
the lower 48 states of the u . s . were divided into six regions for modeling purposes . each of the ancillary data layers are split into these six regions and models were run within a region and regional model output were compiled to create a complete distribution model across a species range . the regions are based on grouped mrlc zones . download the regional boundaries data layer .
to download regional data , select a region on the map or choose from dropdown , and then click on the data links below . descriptions of the data layers follow the links .
in addition to gap’s ancillary datasets that are used in species model , there are additional gap national datasets available . these include slope , aspect , and percent canopy cover .
slope this is a nationwide coverage of slope , which represents the percent of change of elevation for each 30 m cell . it is based on dem data . download slope data file ( 2 . 8 gb zipped ) .
aspect this is a nationwide coverage of aspect , which describes the direction of slope in degrees . it identifies the downslope direction of maximum change from each raster cell to its neighbors . download aspect data file ( 7 . 3 gb zipped ) .
percent canopy cover this is a nationwide cover of percent canopy cover . it was derived from the national land cover dataset ( nlcd ) . this dataset is a continuous canopy cover percentage . download percent canopy cover data here ( 3 . 4 gb zipped ) .
the gap ancillary datasets available for download are described below including descriptions of data variables and their values as well as the connection with model reports . the descriptions reflect how the data were used in the species models . for a clearer description of the data itself , refer to the metadata supplied for each layer . prior to downloading ancillary data , please read the data descriptions below to ensure they will meet your data needs .
environments dominated by human disturbance such as roads , cities , and the constructed materials that support human habitation have profound effects on species . for most species , this data layer was used to exclude species from a portion of the landscape . however , some species respond favorably to human habitats , therefore this data layer was used in an inclusionary manner .
high – for species that are very intolerant of human disturbance . all portions of the landscape identified as being directly influenced by human disturbance are eliminated from the predicted distribution .
medium – for species that are moderately intolerant of human disturbance . only portions of the landscape identified as being highly or moderately influenced by human disturbance are eliminated from the predicted distribution .
low – for species that are partially intolerant of human disturbance . only portions of the landscape identified as being highly influenced by human disturbance are eliminated from the predicted distribution .
some species respond to environments directly related to altitudinal variation . elevation ( e . g . , dem ) is easily implemented in spatial modeling by limiting the model to the minimum and maximum values explicitly stated in the literature . dems are utilized directly and are measured in meters above mean sea level .
model report : if a species’ model uses elevation as a model variable , then download the ancillary data for elevation .
water and its location on the landscape is a very important aspect of species habitats . the source for hydrographic data was the usgs national hydrography dataset ( nhd ) .
model report : if a species’ model report uses any of the hydrographic information , see the hydrography table for the correct file . each downloadable file in the table contains information with regards to salinity , water type , and velocity .
flowing water – flowing water represents hydrographic features such as streams , rivers , springs , seeps , ditches with moving water , etc .
standing water – standing water represents hydrographic features such as lakes , ponds , reservoirs , bays , inlets , estuaries , ocean , ditches with stagnant water , etc .
wet vegetation – wet vegetation represents hydrographic features such as swamps , marshes , carolina bays , etc . this includes a collection of map units representing seasonally or tidally inundated woody and non - woody plants .
water salinity is a major factor when considering habitat conditions for many species . however , the dynamic and complex nature of water systems makes the development of a highly refined and reliable data layer challenging . therefore , we developed three general categories to include in species habitat models for species requiring water .
all water ( i . e . , both brackish / salt water and freshwater )
for some aquatic species , this is an important aspect of their habitat , such as oxygenation levels , presence of invertebrate prey , and amount of sediment within the water column and on streambed substrates . stream velocity ( i . e . , stream gradient ) was derived from a combination of streams and slopes calculated from a digital elevation model ( dem ) , which created three categories for stream gradient .
slow only – for species that require slow moving or almost stagnant sections of streams or rivers . typically these are areas where the underlying topography is flat ( 0 % gradient ) .
fast only – for species that require high velocity sections of streams or rivers . typically these are areas where the underlying topography is steep . a threshold of > 5 % gradient was used .
all types – for species that can utilize either fast or slow sections of streams or rivers .
land cover the ecological systems mapped in the gap national land cover data were used as ‘map units’ to describe habitat types preferred by species .
model report : if a species’ model uses map units as a model variable , then download the ancillary data for land cover . map units are designated as either primary or secondary . primary maps units are defined as those ecological systems critical for a species’ reproduction and survival . secondary map units are those ecological systems generally not critical for reproduction and survival , but typically are used in conjunction with primary map units for foraging , roosting , and / or sub - optimal nesting locations . secondary map units are selected only when located within a specified distance from primary map units .
patch size the type and size of clusters of habitat can be assessed with spatial modeling . we used patch size to indicate minimum amounts of contiguous habitat needed for a species . this variable requires the generation of cluster sizes in the actual modeling code during post processing . in other words , these model variables are not independent ancillary data layers .
model report : if a species’ model uses patch size , this variable is generated in the actual modeling code during post processing . any cells that do not form a minimum contiguous patch are eliminated . there are no specific ancillary layers for this variable .
contiguous patch – minimum size ( ha ) – this parameter is set using the most conservation values explicitly stated in the specie literature .
forested map units included deciduous forest , evergreen forest , mixed forest , palustrine forested wetland , and estuarine forested wetland .
non - forested map units were defined as water , pasture / hay , agricultural areas , urban / developed , marshes , beaches , etc .
ecotone type forest / open ecotone only – this data layer represents the transitional areas between forest and open , non - forested habitats .
model report : if a species’ model uses edge type and it is set as forest / open ecotone only , then download the ancillary data for forest edge .
model report : if a species’ model uses edge type and it is set as forest / open ecotone + woodlands / shrublands , then download the ancillary data for forest edge and forest / open ecotone + woodlands / shrublands .
this distance represents a symmetrically buffered edge ( i . e . , 0 , 30 , 60 , 120 , 250 , 500 , and 1000 meters ) . for example , an ecotone width of 500 meters includes 250 meters into forest and 250 meters into open .


papilio cresphontes , the giant swallowtail or in its larval phase the orange dog or orange puppy , is a swallowtail butterfly common in parts of north america and marginally into south america .

in the united states and canada it is mainly found in the south and east .

with a wingspan of about 10 – 16 cm ( 3.9 – 6.3 in ) , it is the largest butterfly in canada and the united states .

papilio cresphontes

andrew brower marked
giant swallowtail ( papilio cresphontes )
as trusted on the
papilio cresphontes
page .
p . cresphontes adult , larva and pupa . - papilio cresphontes - bugguide . net
species papilio cresphontes - eastern giant swallowtail - hodges # 4170 - bugguide . net
papilio cresphontes dorsal wing view ( photographed by robert a . behrstock : urltoken )
papilio cresphontes . ventral wing view ( photographed by b . bouton : urltoken )
distribution of papilio cresphontes in the united states . ( map found at : urltoken )
giant swallowtail ( papilio cresphontes ) , adult . point pelee national park , ont . j . cossey
c . michael hogan marked
distribution
as hidden on the
papilio cresphontes cramer 1777
page .
c . michael hogan marked the classification from
irmng
as preferred for
papilio cresphontes cramer , [ 1777 ]
.
for five years straight , we were beyond excited to see the giant swallowtail butterfly ( papilio cresphontes ) gracing our northern garden .
this page is no longer being updated . for an updated version of this material , see : giant swallowtail ( papilio cresphontes ) .
figure 15 . prepupa of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 1 . adult giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , dorsal view . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 2 . adult giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , with wings closed . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 4 . full - grown larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 16 . laterial view of a chrysalis of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 17 . dorsal view of a chrysalis of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 6 . three - day - old larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 7 . five - day - old larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 12 . a mating pair of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , with the female above . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
a couple of these amazing butterflies have returned to the garden since their release . i’m hoping to find more papilio cresphontes eggs in the near future , and start this amazing adventure again…
figure 20 . sea torchwood , amyris elemifera l . , a host of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 21 . hoptree , ptelea trifoliata l . , in bloom ; a host of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 23 . mature larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , with everted osmeterium . head is to the left . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 10 . front view of larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , in snake - like
striking
pose . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 18 . hercules - club , zanthoxylum clava - herculis l . , a host of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 19 . lime pricklyash , zanthoxylum fagara [ l . ] sarg . , a host of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
schaus ' swallowtail ( papilio aristodemus , - rare , s . florida only ) has narrower pale band .
figure 13 . dorsal view on an egg of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , on hercules club , zanthoxylum clava - herculis l . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
crocker rl , simpson bj . 1979 . mexican orange , choisya dumosa ( rutaceae ) , a potential ornamental is host for orangedog , papilio cresphontes ( lepidoptera : papilionidae ) . southwest entomologist 4 : 11 - 13 .
figure 5 . newly hatched larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , with partially - eaten egg shell . head is to the right . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 9 . larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , in snake - like
striking
pose . head is to the right . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 14 . lateral view on an egg of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , on hercules - club , zanthoxylum clava - herculis l . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 11 . frontal view of larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , showing the osmeterium everted and possibly resembling the forked tongue of a snake . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 3 . young larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , ( illustrating bird dropping mimicry ) on ptelea trifoliata leaf . head is to the top . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 8 . mature larva of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer , showing the greatly swollen thorax that resembles a snake head . the larva ' s head is to the right . photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
if you live in the southeast , perhaps you’ve seen one of these beauties floating through your gardens . it’s the giant swallowtail ( papilio cresphontes ) , the largest butterfly in the united states . with a wingspan that can measure over 6 inches , this is one butterfly that will definitely catch your attention !
figure 22 . hoptree , ptelea trifoliata l . , with fruit ; a host of the giant swallowtail , papilio cresphontes cramer . note the typical wafer - shaped fruit from which hoptree derives one of its common names ,
wafer ash .
photograph by donald hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
susan d . finkbeiner , robert d . reed , robert dirig , and john e . losey . 2011 .
the role of environmental factors in the northeastern range expansion of / papilio cresphontes / cramer ( papilionidae ) ,
journal of the lepidopterists ' society , 2011 , 65 ( 2 ) : 119 - 125 .
here in central texas , some of the best known butterflies are those in the swallowtail family — they are large , beautiful , and quite mesmerizing as they flutter around the garden or into the woodlands . two of my favorite species use the same host plant , the wafer ash , or hop tree ( ptelea trifoliata ) . they are the giant swallowtail ( papilio cresphontes ) , seen at the end of this post , and the two - tailed swallowtail ( papilio multicaudata ) , the latter bearing a remarkable resemblance to the eastern tiger swallowtail .
the third stage of the pailio cresphontes butterfly life cycle is its most unspectacular without vibrant colors , deceptive disguises , or brilliant beauty . but inside this bland shell , one of nature’s most astonishing magic tricks is well underway :
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 .
eisner t , pliske te , ikeda m , owen df , vazquez l , perez h , franclemont jg , meinwald j . 1970 . defense mechanisms of arthropods . xxvii . osmeterial secretions of papilionid caterpillars ( baronia , papilio , eurytides ) . annals of the entomological society of america 63 : 914 - 915 .
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 ) .
field notes : larvae are not usually too difficult to find on new growth of citrus trees in phoenix and tucson . always try to locate new growth to find eggs and caterpillars . normally , i wouldn ' t recommend rearing swallowtails in a closed container ( with the other exception of p . indra ) except , p . cresphontes larvae usually have dry frass and don ' t get sick if you consistently remove frass and host daily .
adult : adult giant swallowtails are large butterflies with a forewing span of 11 . 7 to 17 . 5 cm ) ( avg . 14 cm ) for males and a span of 13 . 5 to 18 . 8 cm ( avg . 14 . 7 cm ) for females . the dorsal wing surfaces of the butterfly are black with a striking diagonal yellow bar across the forewings . the ventral wing surfaces are primarily yellow . the giant swallowtail is very distinct from all other swallowtails found in florida , except for the endangered schaus ' swallowtail , papilio aristodemus ponceanus , which is confined to the florida keys . the giant swallowtail can be distinguished from the schaus ' swallowtail by the yellow - filled
tails
( schaus ' swallowtail tails are all black ) , and the small , brick - red patch just interior to the blue median band on the ventral hind wing .
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the giant swallowtail is widely distributed throughout the american continent . its range extends from southern new england across the northern great lakes states , into ontario , through the southern portions of the central plains to the rocky mountains . the species ranges southward to florida and the caribbean , into the southwestern united states , and on through mexico to central and south america . the giant swallowtail is very common throughout the entire state of florida . it is active throughout the year in southern florida , and is common in northern florida , except in january and february .
larva : the five larval instars differ in appearance but they all share a resemblance to bird droppings . younger instars are more realistic bird - dropping mimics due to their smaller size . mature larvae usually rest on stems or leaf petioles ( hagen 1999 ) , but younger larvae often rest in plain view on the upper surfaces of leaves where bird droppings would be expected .
the younger instars are predominantly black or brown with a white saddle , while the older instars are mottled dark brown with a posterior that is white or cream - colored . younger instars also have setae ( hairs ) on prominent knobs . setae are lacking and knobs are reduced in older instars .
adult butterflies sip nectar from many flowers and are common , but spectacular , visitors to butterfly gardens . identified nectar sources include azalea , bougainvillea , japanese honeysuckle , goldenrod , dame ' s rocket , bouncing bet , and swamp milkweed . they may also sip liquid from manure . adult males patrol flyways through pine woods or citrus groves searching for females . flight is very strong and leisurely , and the butterflies may glide long distances between wing beats . courtship and copulation occur in the afternoon .
mated females usually lay their eggs singly on the upper surface of leaves of host plants . the 1 to 1 . 5 mm spherical eggs are cream to brown and typically have an irregular coating of an orange secretion that is reminiscent in appearance of orange peel . larvae progress through five instars . larval feeding usually takes place during the night .
larvae may pupate on small twigs on the host plant on which they were feeding or they may travel a short distance to a vertically - oriented structure , such as a fence or other plant . the brownish chrysalis is typically oriented at 45° to the pupation substrate , its posterior end attached directly to a silken pad on the substrate by its velcro - like cremaster , and its anterior end attached via a thin silken thread to the substrate . at least two , and probably three , generations occur each year in florida .
the larva is the well - known
orangedog
and is considered a minor pest of sweet orange , ( citrus × sinensis ( l . ) osbeck ( pro sp . ) . host plants of the larvae besides sweet orange include native members of the citrus family ( rutaceae ) including northern pricklyash ( zanthoxylum americanum mill . ) , hercules - club ( zanthoxylum clava - herculis l . ) , lime pricklyash ( zanthoxylum fagara [ l . ] sarg . ) , hoptree ( ptelea trifoliata l . ) , sea torchwood ( amyris elemifera l . ) , mexican orange ( choisya dumosa [ torr . ] a . gray ) , and a variety of exotic rutaceae including gasplant ( dictamnus albus l . ) and white sapote ( casimiroa edulis llave & lex . ) . plant names are from the usda plant database ( 2009 ) , wunderlin and hansen ( 2003 ) , or wunderlin and hansen ( 2008 ) .
mechanical control . homeowners may find that just a few larvae of the giant swallowtail can defoliate small , potted or planted citrus plants . larvae should be hand - picked from these small plants so that blossom and fruit yield are not drastically reduced . mature dooryard trees are large enough to withstand some defoliation .
chemical control . mature commercial citrus trees can withstand infestation by many larvae . however , nursery stock and young grove trees can be protected with bacillus thuringiensis and synthetic insecticides when necessary , as described in the florida citrus pest management guide for chewing insects ( see
orangedog
) .
cech r , tudor g . 2005 . butterflies of the east coast : an observer ' s guide . princeton university press . princeton , new jersey . 345 pp .
daniels jc . 2003 . butterflies of florida : field guide . adventure publications , inc . cambridge , minnesota . 256 pp .
gerberg ej , arnett jr . rh . 1989 . florida butterflies . natural science publications , inc . baltimore , maryland .
glassberg j , minno mc , calhoun jv . 2000 . butterflies through binoculars : florida . oxford university press . new york , new york . 256 pp .
hagen rh . 1999 . prolegs of papilionini ( lepidoptera : papilionidae ) : alternative solutions to the problem of attachment . pp . 237 - 251 . in byers gw , hagen rh , brooks rw . entomological contributions in memory of byron a . alexander . natural history museum , university of kansas , lawrence , kansas , usa .
kimball cp . 1965 . arthropods of florida and neighboring land areas . vol . 1 . division of plant industry , florida department of agriculture , gainesville , florida . 363 pp .
leslie aj , berenbaum mr . 1990 . role of the osmeterial gland in swallowtail larvae ( papilionidae ) in defense against an avian predator . journal of the lepidoptera society 44 : 245 - 251 .
minno mc , butler jf , hall dw . 2005 . florida butterfly caterpillars and their host plants . university press of florida . gainesville , florida . 341 pp .
minno mc and emmel tc . 1993 . butterflies of the florida keys . scientific publishers . gainesville , florida . 168 pp .
minno mc and minno m . 1999 . florida butterfly gardening : a complete guide to attracting , identifying , and enjoying butterflies of the lower south . university press of florida . gainesville , florida . 210 pp .
opler pa , krizek go . 1984 . butterflies east of the great plains . an illustrated natural history . the johns hopkins university press , baltimore , maryland . 294 pp .
scriber mc , tsubaki y , lederhouse rc . 1995 . swallowtail butterflies : their ecology & evolutionary biology . scientific publishers . gainesville , florida . 459 pp .
usda . ( 2009 ) . plant database . usda national resources conservation service . urltoken ( 8 april 2009 ) .
wunderlin rp and hansen bf . 2003 . guide to the vascular plants of florida . 2nd ed . university press of florida . gainesville , florida . 787 pp .
wunderlin rp , hansen bf . ( 2008 ) . atlas of florida vascular plants . institute for systematic botany . urltoken ( 8 april 2009 ) .
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upcoming events 2018 bugguide gathering in virginia july 27 - 29 : registration and discussion photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in wisconsin , july 10 - 12 photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in virginia , june 4 - 7 . photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in arizona , july 25 - 28 photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in alabama photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in iowa photos from the 2010 workshop in grinnell , iowa photos from the 2009 gathering in washington
adult :
black with a yellow x on the front wing and basal and subapical bands on the hind wing . usually easily distinguished from p . thoas by the lower three spots in the outer row on the front wing being much larger than the rest and running ( at the top ) into a distinct offset in the second row . [ in p . thoas the lower four or five spots in the outer row are fairly even in size , tapering gradually down in size upward ; not running into an offset in the second row at the third spot . ]
larvae feed on leaves of plants in the citrus family ( rutaceae ) , including citrus ( citrus spp . ) , pricklyash ( zanthoxylum spp . ) , hoptree ( ptelea trifoliata ) , rue ( ruta graveolens ) , etc . adults take flower nectar from a variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs
1 . egg . 2 . egg and first instar caterpillar . 3 . caterpillar . 4 . caterpillar in defensive posture . 5 . caterpillar ready to pupate . 6 . pupa . 7 . adult .
pinned adult image plus description , biology , larval and adult food , us distribution map ( butterflies and skippers of north america , nearctica . com )
a new heraclides swallowtail ( lepidoptera , papilionidae ) from north america is recognized by the pattern on its neck . kojiro shiraiwa , qian cong , nick v . grishin . 2014 . zookeys 468 : 85 - 135 .
simon & schuster ' s guide to insects dr . ross h . arnett , dr . richard l . jacques . 1981 . fireside .
disclaimer : dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service . we strive to provide accurate information , but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world . if you need expert professional advice , contact your local extension office .
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or with prickly ash growing around towns in the midwest , florida . ( basically , anywhere in the united states where citrus or prickly ash is established . )
suitable lab host plants : most any species of citrus will work in the lab . potted rue is often sold in nurseries and works well .
how to find eggs : focus exclusively on host plants with new growth . this can be found either at the tips of branches or suckers coming out of the trunk of the tree .
how to find caterpillars in the field : look for isolated host plants ; host plants with new growth .
post - hibernation strategies : expose post - diapause pupae to warmer temperatures ( room temperature ) long - day photoperiod ; high humidity . ( mist spray pupae daily once your bring them out of the cold or refrigerator . )
avoiding diapause techniques : provide larvae with healthy host plant and expose larvae to long - day conditions .
disease prevention : change out host plant and remove frass every four to six days in an open bucket and every day using a closed container .
year - round resident in eastern north america and southern california and arizona , with migratatory presense in the regions between ( scott 1986 ) . habitats are woodland to citrus groves . host plants include many species , but mostly in one family , with most known hosts from rutaceae . hosts are usually trees or herbs . eggs are laid on the host plant singly . individuals overwinter as pupae . there are a variable number of flights based on latitude with the approximate flight time may15 - sep15 in the northern part of the range and jan1 - dec31 in the southern part of their range ( scott 1986 ) .
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only 1 or 2 butterfly eggs out of 100 live to become adult butterflies .
giant swallowtail butterflies are one of the largest species in the us . they are found in states east of the continental divide as well as in the southern part of the western us .
these butterflies lay eggs on plants in the citrus family ; orange , grapefruit , kumkuat , etc . along with trees that come to mind when we think of the word ‘citrus’ , they eat plants such as hercules’ club , hop tree , and prickly ash .
they , like black swallowtail butterflies , also lay eggs on rue . if you have both black swallowtail and giant swallowtail butterflies laying eggs on rue , it can be handy to know that giant swallowtail eggs are orange / rust in color while black swallowtail eggs are cream / white in color .
when raising these caterpillars , remember that they rarely , if ever , move from citrus leaves to rue . they normally will starve to death . they simply do not recognize rue as food after eating citrus .
the caterpillars are called ‘orange dogs’ because of their occurrence on orange trees . it is one of the few butterflies that have a separate name for the caterpillar . there are several moths that have two names , like the ‘hickory horned devil caterpillar’ and ‘regal moth’ as names for the same moth .
the young caterpillars look much like wet bird droppings . older caterpillars looks like dry bird / lizard / critter poop . of course one of the best reasons to look like poop is the fact that few critters eat bird poop .
the osmeterium of the giant swallowtail caterpillar is red . when the caterpillar is disturbed , it quickly bends backward , extends its osmeterium , and touches whatever is touching it . the osmeterium has an odorous liquid on it .
before pupating , caterpillars empty their digestive tracts . swallowtail caterpillars tend to have a ‘frass dump’ ( the last expelled excrement of a caterpillar before it pupates ) that is runny and somewhat pudding textured .
swallowtail caterpillars prepare to pupate by attaching themselves by making a silk pad and button on an object . it crawls onto the pad and attaches its anal prolegs into the button . it then makes a silk girdle by touching its head down to the object , side to side , many times over . each time it leaves a strand of silk . the strands together make a strong girdle that holds the butterfly caterpillar .
when the caterpillar pupates , its old cuticle simply slips under the girdle and slips off the caterpillar . the ‘skinned’ caterpillar is the chrysalis .
diagnosis : 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 centre .
subspecies : the race of the butterfly reaching southern canada has been referred to as subspecies pennsylvanicus , but it is only weakly differentiated from the nominate subspecies and is not currently recognized .
range : a common and widespread tropical species , it ranges from central america northward through the eastern u . s . to the canadian border . in canada , it is a resident species in southwestern ontario , but strays have been taken in winnipeg , montreal , and one specimen near windsor junction in southern nova scotia . in 1992 , a stray was recorded in the ottawa area for the first time following high winds resulting from a hurricane in the southern u . s .
early stages : the larva is called the
orange dog
in the u . s . , where it can be a pest in citrus orchards . it is brown with a light cream saddle in the middle and a large cream patch on the tail , resembling a large bird dropping . it has been recorded on hop tree ( ptelea trifoliata ) and northern prickly - ash ( zanthoxylum americanum ) in ontario . both plants are common at point pelee , where the larvae can be found .
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 .
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 .
© 2002 . this material is reproduced with permission from the butterflies of canada by ross a . layberry , peter w . hall , and j . donald lafontaine . university of toronto press ; 1998 . specimen photos courtesy of john t . fowler .
photographs are the copyrighted property of each photographer listed . contact individual photographers for permission to use for any purpose .
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disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
these caterpillars almost killed my little satsuma tree , but they are so cool that i couldn ' t bear to disturb them .
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( kansas : sedgwick county . residential house , 37° 40 ' 40 . 06
n , 97° 10 ' 27 . 94
w . in garden . september 19 , 2011 .
adult diagnosis : the giant swallowtail butterfly is the largest butterfly species of canada and the united states with a wingspan within the ranges of 10 to 16 cm . the wings are colored black or blackish brown and feature yellow banding on both the fore and hind wing dorsally . on the ventral side , the wings are mainly yellow with black venation . each hind wing tail features a yellow - orange colored eye , the eye can also appear reddish yellow . another single blue band can be distinguished above the eye . distinction between males and females is very difficult as both sexes are similar , however , females feature longer wing spans than males as adults .
adult natural history : adult swallowtails take in nectar from multiple floral sources for example , goldenrods and azaleas . males patrol pine woods during the afternoon in search of mates to court or copulate with . can also be found patrolling citrus groves for the same reasons . they can glide long distances before needing to beat their wings again . the following video shows the length of their glide before having to flap again .
mates copulate facing away from each other so that the genitals face each other . females oviposit caramel colored eggs usually on the topsides of leaves . giant swallowtail caterpillars visually appear much like large bird droppings on plants . if predators are not fooled by their appearance , the caterpillars can extend their v - shaped osmeterium and release a foul odor to drive away predators .
the migration pattern is similar to that of monarch butterflies , giant swallowtails from the north migrate southwards during the cold seasons .
distribution : the giant swallowtails is spread throughout north america including parts of canada and as far south as central and parts of south america . in the united states , sights have been reported mostly in the south central and south eastern parts of the united states and appearing all year round in florida .
habitat : adults can be found in pine forests and in floral gardens for northern inhabitants . southern adults prefer to live in citrus groves along with the aformentioned habitats .
diet : adults feed on the nectars of many flowers including those of goldenrods , azaleas , bourgainvilla , swamp milkweed , etc . larvae preferrably feed on the leaves of citrus trees and plants .
stokes , donald , lillian stokes , and ernest williams . stokes butterfly book : the complete guide to butterfly gardening identification , and behavior . 1st ed . new york : little , brown and company , 1991 .
latimer , jonathan p . , and karen s . nolting . butterflies . 1st ed . new york : houghton mifflin company , 2000 .
schappert , philip . a world of butterflies : their lives , behavior , and future . 1st ed . ontario : firefly books ltd , 2005 .
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many swallowtail caterrpillars are bird poop mimics in their early instars , but the giant swallowtail keeps it up through the entire series of larval stages . that means a
mature
bird poop roughly 5 centimeters long . when this photo was taken , it was a bit over 3 centimeters long . ( note that many caterpillars besides swallowtails also mimic bird poop . )
october 17th . the caterpillar is suspended by a silken
belt
and button of silk at the tip of the abdomen .
october 18th . the transformation . still images animated at three speeds : 15 frames per second ; 2 frames per second ; and 3 seconds per frame .
october 18th . key images from the video . 2 : 10 pm . no apparent changes externally except that the prolegs are shrunken .
2 : 40 pm . shortly before this photo , the caterpillar had straightened out and begun to vibrate , presumably to detach the old skin from the new one . in this photo , you can see that the prolegs have moved posteriorly as the skin at the hind end has shriveled . the white bands on the side are tracheal linings being drawn out and back .
2 : 40 pm . the old skin behind the head has just begun to split . you can just see a bit of the chrysalis emerging .
2 : 41 pm . more of the chrysalis is visible , and the thoracic legs are being pulled further back .
2 : 43 pm . the head is now almost free and the old skin is about to slip under the silken support loop .
2 : 43 pm . someone ( i wish i could remember who - it was a long time ago ! ) described the process of sheeding the skin as equivalent to a woman removing her pantyhose without using her hands .
2 : 44 pm . head , antennae , and wings are now visible .
2 : 46 pm . wriggling to attach the cremaster ( tip of the abdomen ) to the button of silk under it . at the same time , allowing the cast larval skin to fall away .
2 : 46 pm . at this point , note how little of the abdomen is in contact with the stem . that ' s about to change .
2 : 52 pm . activity has slowed down , but over several hours , the shape will change subtly .
3 : 28 pm . the wings have grown larger and the body is arched backwards a bit . also , the abdomen has broadly molded itself to the stem , an element of the developing twig mimicry .
october 21st . the chrysalis has matured and hardened , slightly changing shape and color . note how . . . . . . the abdomen appears broadly attached to the stem ( but isn ' t , really ) ; . . . there are green specks resembling lichen or algae ; and , . . . the surface itself is craggy like a dead bit of twig .
finally , note how the tip ( head end ) appears broken off with dark
annular rings
at the center . as good as this broken twig mimicry is , imagine if i had provided a more mature common rue woody stem !
november 18th . no changes in the chrysalis . one month since transformation from caterpillar . looks like it will overwinter .
i realigned the specimen to better show the wings , antennae , and legs .
note how the dark upper surface scales influence the perceived color of the yellow scales on the underside .
too cold for it to survive outside and representing the growing repopulation of connecticut with this southern species , it will be placed in the uconn research collection for study .
the empty chrysalis . the old skin split between the antennae and the forewings .
all photos copyright stanley e . malcolm , 2014 . permission for non - commercial purposes is generally allowed after contacting stan ( stan
at
performance - vision . com ) . commercial use at higher resolution is available for a reasonable fee .
we planted 3 potential host plants for giant swallowtails caterpillars : common rue , wafer ash , and northern prickly ash . then , it happened…
unlike milkweed - obsessed monarchs , the giant swallowtail female will lay eggs on a wide range of host plants . their butterfly life cycle also takes up to 2 months , so the odds are stacked against northern gardeners wanting to raise them with fewer generations and more plants to search !
we didn’t have enough space to add full - grown citrus trees , so we stuck with some smaller host options . we planted a waferash tree , a slow - grower that tops out at 20 feet . we also planted common rue , and a northern prickly ash .
the eggs of the giant swallowtail are pretty easy to find compared to other butterfly species that resort to trickery and camouflage to keep their eggs safe .
the giant swallowtail female deposits orange - peel colored eggs on the surface of green leaves , which means you shouldn’t need to get out the old magnifying glass to confirm identity .
brenda of brenda’s butterfly habitat shared that zanthoxylum americanum ( northern prickly ash ) was the giants’ host plant of choice in her michigan garden .
we found five caterpillars on our plants , before searching for and finding two eggs . four of the caterpillars also had an orange hue :
this could be a normal color variation or they could have been in different developmental stages . ( unfortunately , we did not find them right away like with the tiger swallowtails we raised last season . )
we also made a fatal mistake with the two eggs we brought in . whenever you bring in eggs of any butterfly species , make sure they’re properly protected from ravenous caterpillars 😢
a third line of defense is the red horns ( osmeterium ) that emerge from the head of the caterpillar when it feels threatened . the osmeterium emits a pungent odor , that is supposed to make them unpalatable to predators , like ants .
i stroked one across its back , and picked up another that was looking for a fresh cutting…neither action was enough for them to ‘release the red cracken’ .
did you notice the dangerous thorn next to the back of the caterpillar photos above ? i was going to offer the caterpillars our rue plants without the thorny barriers , but decided to try serving this because i need to cut it back to avoid getting gouged when mowing the back yard .
that will fit inside a floral tube or other cutting container . before you grab the stem ,
if you’re replacing cuttings , set the new cutting container next to the old one so the caterpillars can crawl over to their new home and caterpillar food source .
as the caterpillars grow , so do their appetites . however , they haven’t been as ravenous as munching monarch caterpillars . even with 5 big caterpillars in close quarters , they peacefully coexist :
however , if a caterpillar forms its chrysalis in an inconvenient place it can be moved . check out the info on removing swallowtail chrysalides in our overwintering swallowtails post .
swallowtail butterflies ( in general ) have surprisingly fragile wings . this new butterfly lost a tail briefly fluttering around the mesh cage . thankfully , this doesn’t affect their flight :
swallowtails males are said to have thicker , more vibrant yellow wing markings , but there seems to be a lot of variation that makes sexing them from a dorsal view difficult , at best . for a positive male id , see if you can find claspers on butterflies you are raising .
please read the comments section below for more info about raising giant swallowtail butterflies .
i have 3 giant caterpillars on a small toothache tree ( prickly ash ) that i intentionally purchased with them on it a couple of weeks ago . i also have a hop tree . my property is a monarch way station and pollinator garden . i have host plants for many species of butterflies . the giant is one i have desired for a long time but never had in my garden . my question is will they overwinter in chrysalis in northwest georgia ? my sun porch will be heated all winter due to my citrus trees i bring inside . will they emerge due to the warm sun porch or should i take the trees outside with the chrysalis ? they caterpillars have gotten pretty big but i must confess that i don’t know how big they will get when they are ready to go into chrysalis . they were very small a couple of weeks ago . i consider myself an expert with monarchs but am at a loss with the giant swallowtail . monarchs are emerging daily and i am tagging and releasing them after testing for parasites . will the giants stay on my back porch this winter ?
hi gail , if you keep them in a heated porch with lots of sun , they will probably eclose much earlier than they should . check out this post for more info :
so sad , i had 3 in chrysalis last night and today they are gone . i have one left so i brought the pot inside . bird ?
hi teddi , sorry to hear this . yes , there are birds that eat chrysalides , lizards , mice :
i just found 2 giant swallowtail caterpillars in my orange tree . the tree also has a bad case of woolly mold . i would like to save the caterpillars while treating the mold . where do i begin ?
hi victoria , i would just feed them with the least - affected sections of the tree . for your tree , i would contact a local arborist and see what they suggest…
i just noticed i have at least ten of these caterpillars on my citrus tree i just brought inside recently . they are pooping all over the place , my plant is only 4 ft tall , think they will kill it ?
hi anthony , butterfly host plants typically grow back just fine . my concern would be that one host tree isn’t enough to feed that many caterpillars…
i hope you see this and respond quickly , as i have a big dilemma . a giant swallowtail laid eggs on a lemon tree , and now there are ten large caterpillars . problem is , soon that lemon tree will go into a sunroom for the winter , and the owner of the sunroom does not want swallowtail butterflies to take care of . we live in the northeast . we bought rue and planted it outside , and just transferred the caterpillars to the rue plants , along with a bunch of the lemon tree leaves , hoping they would adjust to the rue and make their chrysillis and overwinter on the rue . i just read that they rarely will eat rue after eating citrus , and they will starve . is that true ? what to do now ? help ! !
hi jane , i have never tried to switch them to rue before so you will have to see what happens . we feed ours northern prickly ash , which is a gst host plant native to your region :
hi there i transferred my giant swallowtails from prickly ash to rue . . it took about a day but they eventually started to eat the rue and thrived . . 2 turned into a chrysalis today right on the rue plant . now to wait until the spring ! ! note : this summer i transferred black swallowtails from dill to queen annes lace and they turned into amazing butterflies . still have 4 that had a brown chrysalis install of the green ones that emerged . apparently these want to overwinter . we will see monica t
hi , i’m in south florida and was happy to see giant swallowtail caterpillars all over my wild lime tree . my concern is lizards because i caught one eating a gulf fritillary caterpillar a few days ago . i brought the other cats inside but hate to bring in the giant swallowtail cats unless necessary .
hi karen , even if you bring in just a few you are making a difference . predators are part of a successful butterfly garden and you can’t ( and shouldn’t ) save them all if you want to support a healthy ecosystem . good luck with your caterpillars !
thanks tony , well 4 of 7 survived . the 2 raised on the wild lime leaves wouldn’t eat the rue but the younger ones switched over fine . however , the adults made their chrysalis’ yesterday on the rue , not the branches i added . one already fell . how long until it hardens enough to rehang and would you use contact cement ?
just saw your previous answer to this . . thanks ! no more yet but wish someone would have told me how opposite these are to monarchs or gulfs so i wouldn’t have been such a wreck . they barely eat or move in comparison : )
hi karen , i have not had to rehang a swallowtail chrysalis before but have heard that contact cement works . if you use it , please report back with experience…good luck !
i have a pupating gsw whose bottom - end silk has dislodged . he’s on his side , mostly hovering . should i set him upright with tape or something ? if so , when is it safe to do so ? ( he jerks right now , if i try to touch his silk girdle . )
hi katrina , i would wait to do anything until it pupates and the chrysalis hardens . here’s more info :
in my attempt to attract the monarch butterfly , of which i have only spotted one this year in my garden , i planted rue , fennel , and dill . although the numbers are not impressive we were so delighted this year that we have released 13 black swallowtails and 5 giant swallowtails !
we have never seen a giant before but the majority of the eggs and caterpillars were found on our rue plant more than the dill or fennel . we are fortunate to have a nursery less than a mile away that has everything i need for my butterfly garden . they also allowed a lady to install a screened in butterfly area and we have been able to gain much knowledge from her over the year .
hi tony , i was so happy to see you getting into the swallowtails . i have been raising monarchs here in florida but have expanded to cloudless sulfurs ( they love the cassia plants ) , gulf fritillaries and zebra longwings ( love the passion vine for nectar and host ) and polydamus swallowtail which loves my pipevine as a host plant . have dozens of babies , gave up trying to bring them all in . i enjoy your posts and all the great information you provide . i will say , i am seeing less monarchs this year , but have done my best to contribute to the population ! judy
hi tony ( and butterfly fans ) , i am hoping to find a source for some northern prickly ash saplings . . 2 or 3 i would hope . i live in northern va . i would like to try to raise a few giant swallowtails . i haven’t seen any nearby but i know that some have been raised in this general area .
i have successfully raised some eastern black swallowtails on parsley or dill inside . last year i had some dill outside ( that i was trying to raise for myself ) that were decimated by black swallowtail cats . initially i was angry at the invasion but then i was happy–it didn’t last though–my carolina wren discovered the bonanza of cats the next week and stripped the dill of cats in one morning to feed her brood . i was angry all over again for losing the cats . ( since i was raising the dill for myself i hadn’t brought in the cats . ) then i decided that i was feeding the birds year round so i had to accept the circle of life . this year i planted parsley and dill for the butterflies but to date no eggs or cats…sigh .
i have started a couple good sized milkweed patches in the yard for monarches . i have seen one lone male around them but again no females to date . no eggs or cats either . i just ordered 10 monarch eggs / cats ( no choice which i get ) . i will be raising them inside . i hope i will get a female or two to lay eggs outside in the patches . i have common , swamp ( white and pink ) , tropical , hairy balls and butterfly weed in my milkweed patches .