Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Female has 2 forms: one yellow like the male and the other black with shadows of dark stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has a row of striking blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over parts of the interior hindwing. The upperside hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally larger than the row of pale marginal spots. On the underside of forewing of spring individuals the row of marginal spots may be merged into a continuous band, thus appearing similar to the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (6.2 - 11.4 cm).
Life History: Two broods in the north, three in the south. Males patrol for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats on the upper surface of leaves. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: 3 flights from February-November in Deep South; 2 flights from May-September in north.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of various plants including wild cherry (Prunus), sweetbay (Magnolia), basswood (Tilia), tulip tree (Liriodendron), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), cottonwood (Populus), mountain ash (Sorbus), and willow (Salix).
Adult Food: Nectar of flowers from a variety of plants including wild cherry and lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Milkweed (Asclepias) and Joe-Pye Weed [Eupatorium] are favorites in summer.
Habitat: Deciduous broadleaf woods, forest edges, river valleys, parks, and suburbs.
Range: Eastern North America from Ontario south to Gulf coast, west to Colorado plains and central Texas.
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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 13453 verified sightings
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Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: houdini73
Region: Brown County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Reedberg
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
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Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 03, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
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Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: vvryabyy
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: moosemdg
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Brendabeatty
Region: Pulaski County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: kye
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: kye
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: kye
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: cp2023
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 26, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 26, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Monday DJ
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Summit County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: Plazmakat
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
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Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
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