Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Female has 2 forms: one yellow like the male and the other black with shadows of dark stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has a row of striking blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over parts of the interior hindwing. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally larger than the row of pale marginal spots. On the underside of forewing of spring individuals the row of marginal spots may be merged into a continuous band, thus appearing similar to the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (6.2 - 11.4 cm).
Life History: Two broods in the north, three in the south. Males patrol for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats on the upper surface of leaves. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: 3 flights from February-November in Deep South; 2 flights from May-September in north.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of various plants including wild cherry (Prunus), sweetbay (Magnolia), basswood (Tilia), tulip tree (Liriodendron), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), cottonwood (Populus), mountain ash (Sorbus), and willow (Salix).
Adult Food: Nectar of flowers from a variety of plants including wild cherry and lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Milkweed (Asclepias) and Joe-Pye Weed [Eupatorium] are favorites in summer.
Habitat: Deciduous broadleaf woods, forest edges, river valleys, parks, and suburbs.
Range: Eastern North America from Ontario south to Gulf coast, west to Colorado plains and central Texas.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 11853 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 03, 2019
Submitted by: Death_Cloud
Region: Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 08, 2019
Submitted by: eddielopezzzz
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: klefkovitz
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 08, 2019
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: TPSauve
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: marsrover
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 02, 2019
Submitted by: Jazzejan
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 07, 2019
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: UncleTracy666
Region: Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 06, 2019
Submitted by: Moon
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Aug 22, 2019
Submitted by: Bambi E. Friedman
Region: Kings County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: sris_iris
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 07, 2019
Submitted by: mitzis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 07, 2019
Submitted by: mitzis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Rjfischer
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 02, 2019
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: David Hankins
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
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