Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) has a 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 inch wingspan. It has bright yellow wings with black stripes. The females have two color forms: one with yellow wings like the males, and one that is black with shadows of dark stripes. The black form becomes more common as you move south. It is easily distinguished from the other "black" swallowtails because it lacks the orange spot band of the Black and Spicebush swallowtails, and the iridescent blue of Pipevine Swallowtails. The hindwing of both female forms has a row of blue chevrons and an iridescent blue wash over portions of the hindwing. The upperside of the hindwing has a prominent orange marginal spot that is generally larger than the row of pale marginal spots.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is found in deciduous woods, forest edges, river valleys, parks, and gardens in eastern North America from Ontario south to the Gulf coast and west to the Colorado plains and central Texas.
This butterfly is considered common to abundant. Its major foodplant is the wild Black Cherry and the Tulip Poplar.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is found in deciduous woods, forest edges, river valleys, parks, and gardens in eastern North America from Ontario south to the Gulf coast and west to the Colorado plains and central Texas.
This butterfly is considered common to abundant. Its major foodplant is the wild Black Cherry and the Tulip Poplar.