Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus Lucas, 1852
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of hindwing with upper-most marginal spot yellow or lacking. Underside of forewing with separate yellow spots forming marginal band. Hindwing has narrow marginal spots and no orange tint except for 2 spots near end of inner margin.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 4 inches (7 - 10 cm).
Life History: Males patrol canyons or hilltops for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on surface of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of cottonwood and aspen (Populus), willows (Salix), wild cherry (Prunus), and ash (Fraxinus).
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including thistles, abelia, California buckeye, zinnia, and yerba santa.
Habitat: Woodlands near rivers and streams, wooded suburbs, canyons, parks, roadsides, and oases.
Range: Western North America from British Columbia south to southern New Mexico and Baja California; east to western South Dakota and southeast Colorado. A rare stray to central Nebraska.
Conservation: Not usually 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 1018 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 27, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2013
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: Angel Brummer
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: Buttaflying
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: VVarnado
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: spirea
Region: Polk County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: riessespieces
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 18, 2020
Submitted by: unlearn
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: N_Santill
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 29, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: gullionch
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: regina rochefort
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: redmiston
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
- 1 of 43
- next ›