The Bahamian Swallowtail, a large butterfly with a wingspan reaching between 3 and 5 inches, is restricted within the Turks & Caicos to the Caicos Islands because its caterpillars depend on citrus family host plants.
Writing in an educational feature, naturalist Bill Rhodes explains that the butterfly produces three distinct broods each year, matching seasonal plant growth. The spring brood emerges from March to May, followed by a prolific summer brood from June to August and an autumn brood from September to November. Caterpillars feed on plants including native wild lime and torchwood, defending themselves from birds and lizards by mimicking bird droppings and extruding a smelly, forked organ. Pupae from the autumn generation enter diapause to delay development through the dry winter until the following spring.
While the species is globally secure, its status in the TCI requires ongoing monitoring because habitat loss from coastal development and the clearing of native scrub threaten host plants, making torchwood conservation and native landscaping vital for its survival.