Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Photo by Slipacre from Pixabay
Summary
This aptly named swallowtail is easily identified, with its distinctive yellow wings with black ‘tiger’ stripes. Though the adult butterfly is flashy, other life stages are masters of camouflage: young larvae look like bird droppings, and chrysalides masquerade as dead leaves. Host trees include hop, ash and tulip, and some nectar favorites are Joe Pye weed, coneflower and Mexican sunflower.
More Details
FAMILY
Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
IDENTIFICATION
Average Wingspan: 3.1-5.5 inches. Caterpillars can be identified by their green color and unique eyespots designed to mimic predators. Adults are easily recognizable by their large wingspan and the striking yellow and black coloration. The presence of blue spots on the hind wings of both sexes is a distinctive marker.
HABITAT
Open areas such as fields, roadsides, gardens, riverbanks, but not far from deciduous forests.
LIFE CYCLE
Most tiger swallowtails lay eggs in treetops, one egg to a leaf. First instar caterpillar can be mistaken for a bird dropping. A disturbed caterpillar will sometimes rear up and head-butt anything that gets close. Chrysalis enters diapause until spring. Adult butterfly's long tongue enables it to reach into tubular flowers and sip nectar.
HOST PLANTS
Diversity of tree leaves, including black cherry (Prunus serotina), tulip tree (Liriodendron tuipifera), hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), and white ash (Fraxinus americana)
Ecosystem Connections
The caterpillars are herbivores that graze on vegetation, and adults serve a role in pollination. All life stages provide food for predators. Because butterflies are so sensitive to toxins and disturbances in the environment, they are good indicators of the overall health of ecosystems.