Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Common NameEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Scientific NamePapilio glaucus
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Wingspan (mm)110
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsyellow, black, blue
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, forest edges, fields, gardens, parks
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast and west to the Great Plains
Host Plantstulip tree, wild cherry, sweetbay magnolia, ash, birch, willow, sassafras
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are green, laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are initially dark, resembling bird droppings, then turn green with false eyespots, resembling a snake head. Pupae are green or brown chrysalides, overwintering in colder regions.
Identification TipsYellow forms are distinguished from Canadian Tiger Swallowtail by larger size and more prominent black stripes. Dark females are distinguished from Pipevine Swallowtail by the presence of faint stripes and different body shape, and from Spicebush Swallowtail by the lack of orange spots on the hindwing underside.
Description
A large, sexually dimorphic swallowtail. Males are bright yellow with four black 'tiger' stripes on each forewing. Females can be yellow and striped like males, or a dark, blackish-brown form (as pictured) with blue scaling on the hindwings, mimicking the unpalatable Pipevine Swallowtail.
