Species Papilio glaucus - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Hodges#4176

4176

Papilio glaucus Linnaeus, 1758. Synonyms and taxonomic notes:

Adult wingspan about 120 mm, females larger than males. (Butterflies and Moths of North America gives wingspan range of 92-165 mm.)

Larvae to 55 mm (1)

Very large, bright yellow with black stripes. Males (A) are yellow and black above. Light-morph females show blue on hindwing above (B). A dark-morph (C) occurs in females through much of range, especially in southern states. The stripes are still faintly visible from some angles (D). The black females may be distinguished from other swallowtails from below by the absence of the band of orange spots on the hind wing seen on Black and Spicebush Swallowtails, and lack of iridescent blue of Pipevine Swallowtails.

  A B

  C D

Early instar caterpillars resemble bird droppings. They sit on top of the leaf, unlike the similar Spicebush Swallowtail's larvae. Later instar caterpillars are green with two large eyespots on the thorax. Nothing in the East is similar, but Western Tiger and Pale Tiger Swallowtails are similar larvae found on the west coast. When the caterpillar is full grown and getting ready to pupate it turns brown.

  

Caterpillar projecting its osmeteria

mostly eastern US to Great Plains - Map - MPG

Found around woodland edges, swamps.

Caterpillars feed on Sweet Bay (Magnolia virginiana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Swamp Bay (Persea palustris) and Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers.

Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) is also a host for Papilio glaucus, as I now have three on it. -Contributed by Doug on 12 September, 2014

Early instar, late instar, pupa

Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio appalachiensis

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio canadensis

Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus

Pale Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon

Butterflies of America - BOA