"This Dude is Big"
This dude is big! The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest North American butterfly. This pose, with the wings open, is the view usually seen in reference books. But the second pose shows the wings when closed. Many, if not most, butterflies have different colorations and patterns on it's upper and lower wing surfaces. This individual had a wingspan of about 5 inches, and is seen on Bull Thistle at Stony Creek Metropark.
"This Dude is Big"
This dude is big! The Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest North American butterfly. This pose, with the wings open, is the view usually seen in reference books. But the second pose shows the wings when closed. Many, if not most, butterflies have different colorations and patterns on it's upper and lower wing surfaces. This individual had a wingspan of about 5 inches, and is seen on Bull Thistle at Stony Creek Metropark.