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 49 - 72 of 13603 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 22, 2010
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Scott County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Scott County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: Emma Heim
Region: Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 15, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 10, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 10, 2025
Submitted by: TG
Region: Ohio County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 10, 2025
Submitted by: Casey0680
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Aug 07, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Cass County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: Puidwen
Region: Greene County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: siadea
Region: Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Ennis_delmar
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Apr 19, 1996
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Clark County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: thetroops
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 02, 2025
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