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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Abundant
Habitat: Forest, Grassland, Wetland, Urban
Activity: Diurnal (Active during day)

One of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is large and slow moving. The male is yellow with four black “tiger stripes” on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic (two or more different forms). The outer edge of the forewing is black with a row of yellow spots and the veins are marked with black. The hindwing of both female forms has a row of striking blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over parts of the interior hindwing. The inner margin of the hindwing has small red and blue spots.

Diet

Larval host plants include wild cherry (Prunus), sweetbay (Magnolia), basswood (Tilia), tulip tree (Liriodendron), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), cottonwood (Populus), mountain ash (Sorbus), and willow (Salix). Adults feed on 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.

Activity Pattern

Diurnal (Active during day)
Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Arthropoda
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Class: Insecta
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Order: Lepidoptera
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Family: Papilionidae
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Genus: Papilio
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Species: Papilio glaucus

Scientific Name

Papilio glaucus

Behavior

Eastern tiger swallowtails are diurnal, and are usually solitary. Adults are known to fly high above the ground, usually seen above the tree canopy. Males seek females by patrolling habitats containing the larval host plants. Males participate in a behavior called puddling, in which they congregate on mud, damp gravel or puddles. They extract sodium ions and amino acids from these sources which aid in reproduction.

Ecological Role

Help with pollination and are a food source for birds and other animals

Activity Pattern

Diurnal (Active during day)

Habitat Types

Forest
Grassland
Wetland
Urban

Geographic Distribution

Found in the eastern United States from southern Vermont to Florida west to eastern Texas and the Great Plains. It is common throughout its range, although is rarer in southern Florida and absent from the Florida Keys.

Local Abundance

Abundant

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife

Additional Notes

The eastern tiger swallowtail is the state butterfly of Alabama (as well as state mascot),Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and is the state insect of Virginia.

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