Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus Lucas, 1852
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of hindwing with upper-most marginal spot yellow or lacking. Underside of forewing with separate yellow spots forming marginal band. Hindwing has narrow marginal spots and no orange tint except for 2 spots near end of inner margin.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 4 inches (7 - 10 cm).
Life History: Males patrol canyons or hilltops for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on surface of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of cottonwood and aspen (Populus), willows (Salix), wild cherry (Prunus), and ash (Fraxinus).
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including thistles, abelia, California buckeye, zinnia, and yerba santa.
Habitat: Woodlands near rivers and streams, wooded suburbs, canyons, parks, roadsides, and oases.
Range: Western North America from British Columbia south to southern New Mexico and Baja California; east to western South Dakota and southeast Colorado. A rare stray to central Nebraska.
Conservation: Not usually 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 1306 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Jun 17, 2025
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: Charitymw1
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Funkki
Region: Marion County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: katiede
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2025
Submitted by: MackenzieDL
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Lewis County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: Kaziteega
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 04, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Christensen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 16, 2025
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