A large yellow-and-black butterfly that's often considered the eastern US's most familiar swallowtail. Females come in two color forms — yellow (like males) and dark black — to mimic the toxic pipevine swallowtail.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm. The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making the females dimorphic. The yellow morph has similar coloring to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing; the dark morph is almost completely black.
Source: Wikipedia — Papilio glaucus Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Males: brilliant yellow with black tiger stripes and blue-and-orange spots on hindwings. Females have a dark melanic morph that mimics the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail.
Similar species. Other tiger swallowtails (Canadian, Two-tailed) by range. Pipevine Swallowtail (model for the dark female form).
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Adults: nectar from milkweed, butterfly bush, wild bergamot, lilac. Caterpillars: leaves of tulip tree, sweet bay, wild cherry.
Behavior. Slow gliding flight. Males "puddle" at wet mud for sodium. Females lay single eggs on host plant leaves. Two broods per year over most of range.
§ Range
Eastern US from southern Canada to Florida
§ Habitat
Deciduous woodland edges, gardens, river corridors
§ Threats
Pesticide-driven host plant loss (tulip tree, black cherry), gardens with non-native plants, light pollution disorienting nocturnal migrations.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern tiger swallowtail is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native tulip trees, black cherry, yellow poplar as host plants. Skip pesticides. Reduce porch lighting.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Papilio glaucus
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Papilio glaucus
- iNaturalist · taxon 60551
- IUCN Red List — search for Papilio glaucus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Papilio glaucus
§ Sources cited
- North American Butterfly Association
- Xerces Society
- iNaturalist
- BugGuide
