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 121 - 144 of 159 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BobMoul (Bob Moul)
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BobMoul (Bob Moul)
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: May 06, 2010
Submitted by: tom howe (Tom Howe)
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman (Stephen J. Stedman)
Verified date: Jun 28, 2010
Observation date: Apr 20, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Stephen W. Johnson)
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman (Stephen J. Stedman)
Verified date: May 21, 2009
Observation date: Jun 05, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Hyatt)
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman (Stephen J. Stedman)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: May 23, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Krushnemegh Kunte)
Region: Swain County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: stephen stedman (Stephen J. Stedman)
Verified date: Mar 11, 2009
Observation date: Jun 21, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (T. Wilcox)
Region: Watauga County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand (Harry LeGrand)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jun 07, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Emmitt)
Region: Yancey County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand (Harry LeGrand)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: May 12, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sara Bright/Paulette Haywood Ogard)
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Sep 26, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Not given)
Region: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 07, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Matthew Roth)
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Chris Durden)
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 19, 2001
Submitted by: davidwright (David Wright)
Region: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 31, 2001
Submitted by: kgardner (Karl Gardner)
Region: Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 29, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Boscoe)
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 28, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Harry Pavulaan)
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 25, 2004
Submitted by: davidwright (David Wright)
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 19, 2001
Submitted by: davidwright (David Wright)
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: Jun 19, 2007
Submitted by: davidwright (David Wright)
Region: Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: Jun 15, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Boscoe)
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 28, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Harry Pavulaan)
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: Jun 19, 2003
Submitted by: davidwright (David Wright)
Region: Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: May 29, 2007
Submitted by: BobMoul (Bob Moul)
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand (Harry LeGrand)
Verified date: Jan 26, 2007
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