The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry detected lime swallowtail butterfly in Key West in October 2022 after a citizen reported seeing two caterpillars in their backyard. The caterpillars of this invasive species threaten the environment by:
- Destroying citrus foliage
- Threatening native butterflies
These insects spread rapidly. In addition to natural distribution, immature stages could be transported on plants.
After the detection of this pest, survey and control by hand collection was performed in Monroe County. This eradication program included over four years of surveillance and outreach after the original collection of lime swallowtail caterpillars in Key West. On August 15, 2026, lime swallowtail butterfly was declared eradicated in Florida.
Lime Swallowtail Final Report
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Lime Swallowtail Pest Alert
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To help stop the spread of this pest, if you see eggs, caterpillars or pupae on your citrus plants, collect them, place them in a sealed container and contact our Helpline at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov.
