Still to this day, the biggest thrill of creating a butterfly garden, is seeing a giant swallowtail flutter into the space. The pure size and beauty of this butterfly is incredible.
These beauties capture your attention as they glide through the garden from one plant to another, as their forewing span is from 11.7-17.5 cm for males, and 13.5 to 18.8 cm for females.
I planted a lime tree, one of their host plants, in the garden a few years ago. The tree is now taller than me providing plenty of food for the caterpillars. Yesterday, while I strolled through the garden I found many eggs on the top of the leaves, as well as a few small caterpillars.
According to the University of Florida, the egg has an irregular coating of an orange secretion, a resemblance of an orange peel.
Each instar looks different in appearance. They resemble bird droppings when younger and rest on the top of the leaves. The larger caterpillar will rest on stems or leaf petioles.
According to the University of Florida, the younger caterpillars are black, or brown, with a white saddle and have hairs on prominent knobs. As they grow in size they are mottled dark brown with a white or cream-colored posterior, and no longer have knobs.
