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Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What insect is this? > General/curiosity insects > Insects with obvious wings: greater than 1 inch long or wingspan is 2 inches or more > Orangedog (giant swallowtail)

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Orangedog (giant swallowtail)

Papilio cresphontes

Giant swallowtail

Wendy Prichart

Giant swallowtail

David Cappaert, Michigan State University


Description: 4 - 5 1/2 inches long. Forewings are black with a striking diagonal yellow bars running across each wing. They also have a yellow "eye" in each tail wing.

Where/When: Not common, but can occasionally be found around flowers during the summer as migrants from the South.

Significance: A particularly large and attractive butterfly.

More information on Giant swallowtail

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