Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio canadensis Rothschild & Jordan, 1906
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Smaller than Eastern or Western Tiger Swallowtails. Upperside of forewing with relatively broad black stripes; underside with marginal yellow spots merged into continuous band. Hindwing with numerous orange scales. Extremely rare black female form.
Wing Span: 2 5/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol to locate receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on surface of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from May to mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of birch (Betula), aspen (Populus), and black cherry (Prunus).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers.
Habitat: Northern deciduous and evergreen-deciduous woods and forest edges.
Range: North America from central Alaska southeast across Canada and the northern Great Lakes states to northern New England.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1759 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: voriig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: voriig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: voriig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 18, 2025
Submitted by: voriig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Oct 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 17, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: Beerthief
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 09, 2025
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: May 31, 2025
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