Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio appalachiensis (Pavulaan & Wright, 2002)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Similar to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but larger. Wings slightly angular and vertical black stripes narrower. Hindwings of males triangular. Underside of forewings with nearly continuous yellow submarginal band. Undersides of hindwings with rectangular submarginal lunules. Female has both yellow and black forms. Both forms with markedly reduced iridescent blue wash on topside of hindwings. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally smaller than the row of pale marginal spots.
Wing Span: 8.6 - 11.5 cm (3 3/8 - 4 1/2 inches).
Life History: One brood (May–June). Males patrol tree tops in a sailing looping flight looking for females. On mountain summits and ridge tops, males often in hurried flight. Females are extremely elusive, prefering to remain in forest canopy. Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillar eats leaves; chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of wild black cherry (Prunus), the only currently known host.
Adult Food: Nectar from a variety of plants including early & pink azalea (Rhododendron), mountain laurel (Kalmia), cockspur thorn (Crataegus), blackberry (Rubus), bush honeysuckle (Diervilla), and multiflora rose (Rosa).
Habitat: Deciduous broadleaf forests of mid-to-high elevations in southern Appalachian Mountains. Seldom strays far from wooded areas.
Range: Southern Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia, westward to northeast Alabama.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G4/5 – Demonstrably secure; may be rare in lower elevations of its range.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 158 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 06, 2019
Submitted by: Hans Holbrook
Region: Randolph County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 14, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2019
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: pachips
Region: Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2019
Observation date: Apr 27, 2019
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Cocke County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 28, 2019
Observation date: Apr 26, 2010
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Doug Allan)
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Feb 17, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 18, 2017
Observation date: Apr 26, 2017
Submitted by: birder89
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: May 26, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2011
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Tom Stock, Rick Borchelt, Beth Johnson, and Walter Gould)
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 29, 2016
Observation date: Jun 05, 1968
Submitted by: richardhsmith (specimen collected by Dr. William A. Andersen, Lutherville, MD 21093)
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 29, 2016
Observation date: May 22, 2015
Submitted by: wvbirder
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Feb 09, 2016
Observation date: Jul 22, 2015
Submitted by: reutere
Region: Delaware County, New York, United States
Verified by: reutere
Verified date: Jul 25, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 17, 2015
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 27, 2015
Observation date: May 14, 2015
Submitted by: grosenberry
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 27, 2015
Observation date: May 19, 2014
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 27, 2014
Observation date: May 26, 2013
Submitted by: ranger.hanger
Region: Augusta County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 18, 2013
Observation date: Jun 29, 2013
Submitted by: wvbirder
Region: Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 15, 2013
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Georgia, Towns County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 27, 2013
Observation date: Jun 16, 2012
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Rick Cheicante)
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Jan 08, 2013
Observation date: Apr 28, 2012
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Jun 04, 2012
Observation date: May 06, 2012
Submitted by: Cheryl Jennings
Region: Tucker County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 30, 2006
Submitted by: franpope
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 16, 2011
Observation date: May 16, 2009
Submitted by: Matt ODonnell
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 23, 2011
Observation date: May 22, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Region: Washington County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Jun 04, 2011
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