Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio appalachiensis (Pavulaan & Wright, 2002)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Similar to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but larger. Wings slightly angular and vertical black stripes narrower. Hindwings of males triangular. Underside of forewings with nearly continuous yellow submarginal band. Undersides of hindwings with rectangular submarginal lunules. Female has both yellow and black forms. Both forms with markedly reduced iridescent blue wash on topside of hindwings. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally smaller than the row of pale marginal spots.
Wing Span: 8.6 - 11.5 cm (3 3/8 - 4 1/2 inches).
Life History: One brood (May–June). Males patrol tree tops in a sailing looping flight looking for females. On mountain summits and ridge tops, males often in hurried flight. Females are extremely elusive, prefering to remain in forest canopy. Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillar eats leaves; chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of wild black cherry (Prunus), the only currently known host.
Adult Food: Nectar from a variety of plants including early & pink azalea (Rhododendron), mountain laurel (Kalmia), cockspur thorn (Crataegus), blackberry (Rubus), bush honeysuckle (Diervilla), and multiflora rose (Rosa).
Habitat: Deciduous broadleaf forests of mid-to-high elevations in southern Appalachian Mountains. Seldom strays far from wooded areas.
Range: Southern Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia, westward to northeast Alabama.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G4/5 – Demonstrably secure; may be rare in lower elevations of its range.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 159 verified sightings
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Grant County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 15, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Cameala
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
Observation date: Apr 28, 2023
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 01, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 30, 2012
Submitted by: K Stilwell
Region: Tazewell County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 02, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 2009
Submitted by: ms722
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 31, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Region: Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 08, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Region: Carter County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2008
Submitted by: Richlinds
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 06, 2018
Submitted by: Elizabeth Wolfe
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Fannin County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: Apr 20, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Graham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 27, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2007
Submitted by: Hans Holbrook
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2017
Submitted by: K Stilwell
Region: Tazewell County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 08, 2021
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: James Fox
Region: Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: May 06, 2018
Submitted by: schaarschmidt
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: dustin.brace
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
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