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 13484 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 29, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: MaryInArlington
Region: Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Falcon5177
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: MaryInArlington
Region: Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: ebea
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2025
Submitted by: jennorth625
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: May 15, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: May 17, 2025
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Washington County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2008
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Cabell County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 06, 2025
Observation date: Apr 27, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 29, 2025
Observation date: Apr 29, 2025
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 29, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: Sarah Carefoot
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2025
Observation date: Apr 22, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 22, 2025
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