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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 13310 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Gdmac3k
Region: Hall County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2005
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2010
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Pickett County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2013
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2013
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2023
Submitted by: MamaJ413
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jan 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: mostlynative
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 08, 2023
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: keleptose
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: keleptose
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 22, 2023
Submitted by: Jenmiller81
Region: Talladega County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: Jenmiller81
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 03, 2023
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 20, 2023
Submitted by: Bytehdz0
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Aug 16, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: danaher94
Region: Copiah County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: xBISsped6
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: Kuccamunga
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
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