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 13653 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 19, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jul 18, 2025
Submitted by: Stephanie Moore
Region: Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 19, 2026
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: drcooke2
Region: Hocking County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 15, 2026
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Colbert County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: Alex Stach
Verified date: Jun 17, 2026
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2026
Observation date: Jun 08, 2026
Submitted by: BuffaloveMom
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: jwsformo
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: Graycatbird88
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 08, 2026
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2026
Observation date: Jun 01, 2026
Submitted by: Arceuslee33
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 03, 2026
Observation date: Jun 03, 2026
Submitted by: AnnL
Region: Todd County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 03, 2026
Observation date: Aug 17, 2022
Submitted by: Pterouras
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 30, 2026
Observation date: Mar 15, 2026
Submitted by: LanaV
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: May 23, 2026
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: May 15, 2026
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 15, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 12, 2026
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
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