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 13635 verified sightings
Observation date: May 10, 2026
Submitted by: Jlbailey
Region: Webster County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Mar 20, 2026
Submitted by: Kylie
Region: Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Mar 25, 2026
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: RebeccaM1992
Region: Bell County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Mar 31, 2026
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 05, 2026
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 05, 2026
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 03, 2026
Submitted by: jkarthei
Region: Morgan County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 07, 2026
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: EPIMEDIUM
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 04, 2026
Observation date: Apr 25, 2026
Submitted by: Stujo4
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 27, 2026
Observation date: Apr 18, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 15, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 15, 2026
Observation date: Apr 12, 2026
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 15, 2026
Observation date: Apr 05, 2026
Submitted by: MothManda
Region: Banks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Alex Stach
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 05, 2026
Submitted by: MothManda
Region: Banks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Alex Stach
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 10, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: autumnhw
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 10, 2026
Observation date: Aug 18, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Apr 08, 2026
Observation date: Mar 13, 2026
Submitted by: RBillyAR
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 06, 2026
Observation date: Mar 13, 2026
Submitted by: RBillyAR
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 06, 2026
Observation date: Apr 02, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 05, 2026
Observation date: Apr 02, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 05, 2026
Observation date: Mar 11, 2026
Submitted by: Maggiemyst
Region: Montgomery County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Alex Stach
Verified date: Apr 03, 2026
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