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 13712 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: MegL
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2026
Observation date: Aug 13, 2026
Submitted by: michael marantz
Region: Union County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 13, 2026
Observation date: Jul 17, 2026
Submitted by: Lady Vine
Region: Providence County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2026
Observation date: Aug 12, 2026
Submitted by: engineergirl
Region: Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 12, 2026
Observation date: Aug 12, 2026
Submitted by: starcat
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 12, 2026
Observation date: Aug 06, 2026
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 10, 2026
Observation date: Jul 24, 2026
Submitted by: laurensue
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 10, 2026
Observation date: Aug 09, 2026
Submitted by: randy wood
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 10, 2026
Observation date: Aug 06, 2026
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 10, 2026
Observation date: Aug 09, 2026
Submitted by: Michayla Lovitt
Region: Wayne County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2026
Observation date: Aug 06, 2026
Submitted by: LanaV
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2026
Observation date: Aug 05, 2026
Submitted by: MegL
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2026
Observation date: Jul 31, 2026
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2026
Observation date: Aug 04, 2026
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2026
Observation date: Aug 04, 2026
Submitted by: starcat
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2026
Observation date: Aug 03, 2026
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2026
Observation date: Jul 29, 2026
Submitted by: AprilsFlutterbys
Region: Fayette County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 04, 2026
Observation date: Jul 30, 2026
Submitted by: autumndannay
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 03, 2026
Observation date: Aug 01, 2026
Submitted by: Jpearpoint
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2026
Observation date: Aug 01, 2026
Submitted by: getherington
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2026
Observation date: Jul 27, 2026
Submitted by: mikeandpaige
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2026
Observation date: Jul 30, 2026
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 31, 2026
Observation date: Jul 24, 2026
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 31, 2026
Observation date: Jul 29, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 30, 2026
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