| Heraclides cresphontes (Cramer, 1777) |
| Status: Uncommon to common resident or stray. |
| Flight Period(s): There are at least two flights. In Nebraska it has been found from 18 May – 23 September. |
| Range: The Giant Swallowtail is a resident in southern and eastern portions of the United States. The boundry where residency ends and where it considered a stray is somewhat fluid and in question. It is regularly reported in southern and eastern Nebraska, and has been found as far north as the Niobrara River valley where it has been found on several occasions. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) in the wild, as well as ornamentals including gasplant (Dictamnus albus) and rue (Ruta graveolens). Its larvae are a pest on citrus plants in the south. |
| Overwinter: As pupae. |
| Commentary/Habitat: Although it has a habit of straying and can be found anywhere, in Nebraska the Giant Swallowtail is primarily associated with wooded areas where prickly ash grows in the understory. It has been reported in abundance in alfalfa fields adjacent to woodlands in northeastern Nebraska along the Missouri River. It also becomes established on ornamentals such as rue and gasplant. |
| Similar Species: None |
