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 169 - 192 of 13662 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 16, 2025
Submitted by: cp2023
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 14, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: Claire.Shoun@gm...
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: Claire.Shoun@gm...
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: WashashoreDani
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: beverlynantz
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 10, 2025
Submitted by: Kansasbirder
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
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
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