If you’ve been following the story of my caterpillars, you know that I’ve been awaiting the emergence of multiple butterfly species from their cozy little chrysalises.
And yesterday, to my delight, I found a freshly-emerged Giant Swallowtail, wings still damp and slightly droopy. I let it dry for awhile inside the hotel until it looked a little more ready to venture into the world. Then I let it crawl onto my finger, and together we headed into the garden to find it a perfect flower for a little nectar. A Purple Coneflower seemed just the spot.
What a cute and dainty thing — this is by far the smallest Giant Swallowtail I’ve ever seen! I’m going to estimate it at about 4 inches wing-to-wing (the largest ones are over 6 inches wing-to-wing).
Don’t be fooled by the pictures — it might look big in the images, but it’s resting on small blooms.
Being small doesn’t make it any less than absolutely perfect.
After a few minutes, I watched the butterfly take its first flight. And just like that, it was gone!
Our latest Gulf Fritillary emerged the day before the littlest Giant.
Do you see the red stain on the mesh? That’s liquid metabolic waste, or meconium, leftover from the pupal stage — the new butterfly expels it after leaving the chrysalis. I’ll have to clean the mesh with care — I don’t want to accidentally wash off one of the other chrysalises inside the caterpillar hotel.
Moments shared with a butterfly are priceless.
We still have lots of chrysalises and hungry caterpillars in the hotel. It’s a good thing I have no immediate vacation plans. The Two-Tailed Swallowtails haven’t yet emerged — I fully expect them not to do so for a few months, at least. How surprisingly different butterfly species can be!
Meredith,
Wow these are really something. I have reared Gulf Frits before. Never seen a fresh Giant before. They are no longer the largest butterfly in the US you know. The recently described Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail is the largest.
Appalachian Tiger — wow! Gorgeous! Question — the Giant is listed as having up to 5.5″-6.25″ wing span (5.5″ , but you’ve got the Appalachian showing at about 5″ wing span. Do you have confirmed data on the size comparison of the two?
Glorious! I love how friendly Gulf Fritillary butterflies are; I’ve had several land on me while I worked in the garden. (Friendly–or do they mistake us for a food source?)
Well, Caroline — does that mean you are sweet or salty? 😉
Just precious! And what great pictures. Yes, those first moments are priceless for how unafraid they are to let us hold them and get close. This is as good as any vacation!
And indeed, Caroline, I’m sure they’re attracted to your charm, but also to the salt on your skin!
Your photography of wildlife is truly amazing. I love how you captured the butterly from all angles…in particular where it looks like an airplane ready for takeoff staring right at the camera. I have a good friend who does wildlife photography and I am always amazed at the wonderful creations he captures on film–just like you.
Amazing! Watching the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis is such an exciting experience. Your butterflies are gorgeous…you captured them so well in your photographs!
Gorgeous photos Meredith. Love the different angles you shot.
Hi Meredith. Wow! What beautiful pictures of the butterfly’s. I love watching them and plant flowers to draw them in. Right now I am having trouble with a little kitten who wants to catch them.I keep making it let go of them but the temptation or instinct is too strong.
Beautiful as always! My butterfly photos always start with me looking out the window, seeing something that “looks different”, running for the camera, and chasing the butterfly around until it stays still long enough for a photo. The giant swallowtail is more rare in my yard than the yellow swallowtail, and although they’re similar you know when you see a giant — its body is much fatter for one thing.
I’ll have to try raising them — seems like the ideal way to get photos… although I can probably use the exercise of “the chase”, so maybe not. 🙂
Your pictures have inspired me to try raising them next year. Fortunately we see many butterflies a short distance from our patio to the flowers surrounding a pond. My plants are finally blooming after 3 years of bug infestation, so now maybe the butterflies will come visit more closely.
Where did you get your mesh butterfly hotel? I raised them one year as a child but mine was just the paperboard version years ago. Beautiful creatures and beautiful photographs as usual, Meredith. Thanks!
I bought it at IKEA, Tracy, but I’ve seen them around in various places. I think it cost about $10.
Love your butterflies..perhaps when i retire I may look into cultivating these beauties…I do love when they make visits to my garden
Such lovely creatures! :>
And how nifty the adaptation – when they are young & vulnerable, they look like poo, literally! 😀
Very beautiful! 🙂
Thnx for the heads up about this article! 🙂
Such lovely creatures! :>
And how nifty the adaptation – when they are young & vulnerable, they look like poo, literally! 😀
Very beautiful! 🙂
Thnx for the heads up about this article! 🙂
Wow, what a pretty butterfly. I almost regret killing 7-8 of the caterpillars but they were eating my 1.5 year old lime trees down to the trunk. How they ever found my citrus trees in Kansas City is beyond me. Is there any other plants (native to my area) that they eat so I can “transplant” them instead of killing them?
David, Giant Swallowtail caterpillars like other plants in the citrus family, such as Wafer Ash (or Hop Tree) and Prickly Ash. I have those growing here, and the Swallowtails tend to lay their eggs there first, at least in my yard.