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 1 - 24 of 13312 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 22, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Ross County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 04, 2024
Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Fairfield County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 28, 2024
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: Hlewis1993
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 04, 2024
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 09, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: Flying flowers
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Bowie County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 24, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pulaski County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 29, 2024
Observation date: Mar 12, 2024
Submitted by: WL77
Region: Texas, McLennan County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 23, 2024
Observation date: Mar 14, 2024
Submitted by: david.eberly
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Mar 21, 2024
Observation date: Mar 19, 2024
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 20, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: TamMc
Region: Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Mar 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 19, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2023
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 08, 2024
Observation date: Mar 06, 2024
Submitted by: Bjlstand718115
Region: Brazoria County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 08, 2024
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