Sweet Surprise Merges From Marginal Beginnings

While leading an enthusiastic school group through Butterfly Pavilion, naturalist, Vonna Brown, noticed there were six caterpillars that looked like bird poop crawling on the orange tree (Citrus aurantium).

(By the way, check back soon to read about the amazing story of how the orange tree came to call the Museum home.)

Knowing that this was unusual she quickly summoned the Museum team to identify the wiggling droppings. Kids and naturalists in tow, we grabbed our field guides and discovered that we were viewing the larval stage of the giant swallowtail butterfly (Papillo cresphontes). Giant swallowtails are native to the southeast and are an impressive butterfly with a wingspan ranging between 3.9-6.3 inches (that’s big for a butterfly).

Their bodies are dark brown to black with a yellow band. The caterpillars are picky eaters and will feed on a citrus host plant that their mother butterfly has carefully chosen.

Did you know: Charlotte Nature Museum may receive up to 50 swallowtail chrysalis per month, but this is the first time the adults have successfully laid eggs that hatched.

Butterfly Pavilion is open all year and filled with free-flying butterflies. At a comfortable 80 degrees it provides a pleasant respite on a cold winter day. Stop in and spend some time with us and explore Butterfly Pavilion… perhaps you’ll uncover the next natural wonder.

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