Return of the Giant Swallowtail

Last August, the butterfly bush in my front garden attracted the first-ever giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) to Plummer’s Hollow. Two days ago I spotted our second — a little earlier in the month and in much better condition — at the very same bush. It stayed for less than five minutes. I slowed the video to half speed; this was a very fast-moving creature, which perhaps explains how it manages to disperse so far from its larval habitat of citrus trees.

–Dave

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