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 49 - 72 of 159 verified sightings
Observation date: May 22, 2011
Submitted by: Don Holt
Region: Washington County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman
Verified date: Jun 04, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (T. Wilcox)
Region: Ashe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 02, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (McConnell)
Region: Graham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 10, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Fesenmyer)
Region: Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 14, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 22, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 31, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Mays)
Region: Jackson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 29, 2001
Submitted by: Harry Pavulaan (Pavulaan)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 13, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Emmitt)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 11, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Haywood County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 21, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Pippen)
Region: Watauga County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 10, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gatrelle)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 21, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (T. Wilcox)
Region: Ashe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 19, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (T. Wilcox)
Region: Ashe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 1988
Submitted by: Harry Pavulaan (Pavulaan)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 07, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Mays)
Region: Alleghany County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 05, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Carter)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 26, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Mays)
Region: Henderson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 25, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Emmitt)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 26, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gatrelle)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 01, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Graham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 11, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (T. Wilcox)
Region: Ashe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 21, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 27, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gatrelle)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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