The Giant Swallowtail
My first encounter with this spectacular animal was in the fall some years ago when a neighbor spotted a bizarre mottled worm-like organism on his orange tree. We sequestered it into a small butterfly rearing enclosure for observation, with citrus leaves for food. It soon pupated into a chrysalis, but strangely enough didn’t emerge as this gorgeous creature—a giant swallowtail—until spring. We were reminded of a survival phenomenon called diapause where, like a bear hibernating through winter, butterflies can go into a period of suspended development to wait for more favorable weather.
The giant swallowtail is the largest butterfly in North America with a wing span of five to six inches. Originally native to the south and eastern U.S., this species has inch-wormed and flown its way west over the past 50 years attracted to citrus plants, both commercial and domestic, as a caterpillar food source and is now well-established in Southern California, much to the dismay of citrus farmers who call them “orange dogs.” They remarkably resemble fresh bird droppings as a clever disguise to deter poop-adverse predators. Who would have suspected that such a spectacular gold-spangled beauty could come from fake bird crap? Such is the endlessly fascinating and beguiling world of butterflies.
Mermaid resident and butterfly whisperer, Sergio Jimenez, eyes a giant swallowtail caterpillar on a sprig of rue, another one of its food plants in addition to citrus. It’s an accomplished “bird poop” imposter. Notice how the grey, black and white patterning act like military camouflage to effectively break up its profile and blend into the light dappled background.