Last night as I was watering the garden this giant swallowtail swooped up from a plant flying high into our carrotwood tree to rest again. It must be an older swallowtail as it is missing one of its tails.

One of Florida’s largest butterflies, the giant swallowtail, has a wingspan of 8.5 to 11.3 centimeters. Their flight is beautiful to watch as they both flap and glide slowly to their destination. The females, I read, have a narrower yellow band, which is paler in color.