Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (excluding skippers) (Papilionoidea) » Swallowtails, Parnassians (Papilionidae) » Papilioninae » Papilio » Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

Species Papilio rutulus - Western Tiger Swallowtail

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Western Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar? - Papilio rutulus Papilio rutulus 01 - Papilio rutulus Yellow Pupa - Papilio rutulus Western Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio rutulus Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar - Papilio rutulus Western Tiger Swallowtail Crysalis - Papilio rutulus Western Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar, brown form - Papilio rutulus
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))
Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)
Subfamily Papilioninae
Genus Papilio
Species rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Pterourus rutulus--sometimes this and related species are split out from Papilio.
Size
90-110 mm Wingspan(1)
Identification
Very similar to P. glaucus, except ventrally the hind wings lack marginal orange spots.(1)

Larvae very similar to those of Pale Tiger Swallowtail, but black pupil of false eye-spot larger, and yellow spot inside eyespot entirely separated from it, not just notched.
Range
Western North America east to the edge of the Rocky Mountains.(1)
Habitat
Woodlands and more open areas, often near streams. Also common in cities and suburbs due to the popularity of sycamores in landscaping.
Season
June-July (one flight) in much of range, but much of year (2-4 flights) along Pacific coast.
Food
Adults take nectar.
Life Cycle
Males patrol canyons and hilltops. Larvae feed on foliage of deciduous trees, including cottonwood, birch, elms, willow, alder, sycamore, and aspen (1). They rest in shelters made of silk and curled leaves. Overwinters as pupa (chrysalis).
See Also
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus
Pale Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon
Candadian Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio canadensis
Print References
Arnett & Jacques #206 (1)
Brock and Kaufman, p. 22 (2)
Garth and Tilden, p. 101, plate 1--larva, pupa, 10--adult (3)
Allen, pp. 34-35 #4--photo of caterpillar (4)
Scott, #18--listed as subspecies of Papilio glaucus (5)
Internet References
Butterflies of North America
Works Cited
1.Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques
2.Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
By Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman
3.California Butterflies (California Natural History Guides (Paperback))
By John S. Garth, J.W. Tilden
4.Caterpillars in the Field and Garden: A Field Guide to the Butterfly Caterpillars of North America
By Thomas J. Allen, James P. Brock, Jeffrey Glassberg
5.The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide
By James A. Scott
Contributed by tom murray on 18 July, 2005 - 10:58pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Matthew Roth, Chuck Entz
Last updated 5 December, 2008 - 7:25am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact