Other Common Names
Pallid Tiger Swallowtail, Pale Swallowtail
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Pterourus eurymedon--sometimes this and related species are split out from Papilio
Identification
Upper surface of wings is a creamy white, not yellow. Black stripes and wing-border thick. Forewing very pointed. Tail of hindwing is long, twisted. The only black-and-white swallowtail in the west.
Larvae are similar to Western Swallowtail. See
here for David Ferguson's description of the differences: the black "pupil" in the eye spot is smaller than on the Western Tiger, and the yellow spot isn't divided into two spots above the eye spot, just notched at the side.
Range
Western North America: British Columbia south to southern California, east to Montana, in mountains south to New Mexico.
Habitat
Varied: foothills, open woodlands, chaparral, streamsides, but not high mountains.
Season
April-July (one flight in northern part of range). March-August (several flights in southern Califorina).
Food
Adults take nectar, and also (males only?) take fluids from damp sand, mud.
Life Cycle
Larvae feed on foliage of woody plants in several families: Rosaceae (cherry, e.g., Prunus emarginata, Holly-leaved Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia), Rhamnaceae (California Coffee-berry, Rhamnus californica, Ceanothus spp.), Oleaceae (ash, Fraxinus) and Betulaceae. Overwinters as pupa, adults emerge in spring. Males seek hilltops for mating.
Print References
Brock and Kaufman, p. 24
(1)
Garth and Tilden, p. 102, plate 10a
(2)
Scott, #19, plate 7, fig. 34--ultraviolet pattern, fig. 52--pupa
(3)
Allen, pp. 34-35, #7--photo of caterpillar
(4)
