Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis Rothschild & Jordan, 1906
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Smaller than Eastern or Western Tiger Swallowtails. Upperside of forewing with relatively broad black stripes; underside with marginal yellow spots merged into continuous band. Hindwing with numerous orange scales. Extremely rare black female form.
Wing Span: 2 5/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol to locate receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on surface of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from May to mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of birch (Betula), aspen (Populus), and black cherry (Prunus).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers.
Habitat: Northern deciduous and evergreen-deciduous woods and forest edges.
Range: North America from central Alaska southeast across Canada and the northern Great Lakes states to northern New England.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 31 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: Mcd1198
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: SkybluMedia
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2006
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: Arctic Jim
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: Anna Guk-Guettabi
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: earlgreydrinker
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2002
Submitted by: fshroyer
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 17, 2018
Submitted by: Pierre Devillers
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: May 28, 2017
Submitted by: innokobird
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 02, 2017
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2017
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 27, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 01, 2017
Observation date: May 11, 2016
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Apr 29, 2017
Observation date: May 15, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: Jul 09, 2016
Submitted by: kellyd7011
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: Jun 04, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: May 25, 2016
Submitted by: Jodydeloy
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 01, 2016
Observation date: Jun 14, 2015
Submitted by: jacquiesagasta
Region: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Oct 20, 2015
Observation date: Jul 05, 2014
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Aug 10, 2014
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