Tiger swallowtails are well-known butterflies admired for their beauty and size. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) can be found throughout the eastern United States, with populations extending slightly west of the Mississippi River and even into several Mexican states 1.
While some butterfly species are known to migrate long distances, such as the famous Monarch butterfly, the question of whether Tiger Swallowtails migrate remains less explored. Understanding their migration patterns, if any, can help us protect their habitats and support their role as pollinators in various ecosystems.
Tiger Swallowtail Species
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a common and beautiful butterfly species found in the United States. They are mostly found east of the Mississippi river and a bit farther west into the Great Plains states 1. Some key features of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail include:
- Wingspan: 3.12 to 5.5 inches (7.9 to 14.0 cm) 2
- Adults: yellow with four black bands
- Females: optionally dark colored with a row of yellow spots
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis), a close relative to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is native to North America, predominantly in Canada 3. The features and characteristics of Canadian Tiger Swallowtail are:
- Wingspan: Similar to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Adapted to colder climates
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Native To | United States | Canada |
| Wingspan | 3.12 to 5.5 inches | Similar to Eastern Swallowtail |
| Coloration | Yellow with four black bands | Similar to Eastern Swallowtail |
| Habitat | East of the Mississippi River | North America (predominantly Canada) |
These two species of swallowtails share many similarities in physical attributes, but their geographic distributions and habitat preferences differ. Both species are important pollinators for various flowering plants, playing a significant role in their ecosystems.
Life Cycle and Stages
Eggs
The life cycle of the tiger swallowtail butterfly begins with eggs. Female butterflies lay their green eggs on host plants, where caterpillars can later feed on the leaves. Here are some features of the eggs:
- Green color
- Laid on host plants
- Provide nourishment for hatching caterpillars
Caterpillars
After hatching, the larva, or caterpillar, will eat the host plant leaves and grow rapidly. During this stage, the caterpillar utilizes a unique structure called an osmeterium to deter predators like ants. Important characteristics of the caterpillars include:
- Feeding primarily on leaves
- Rapid growth
- Defense mechanism (osmeterium)
Chrysalis and Pupa
When a caterpillar has grown sufficiently, it enters the pupal stage. The caterpillar forms a chrysalis, protecting itself during metamorphosis. Key features of this stage are:
- Formation of a chrysalis
- Metamorphosis taking place
- Transformation into an adult butterfly
Adult Butterflies
Finally, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. Adult tiger swallowtails have two primary forms: yellow and dark. The males are predominantly yellow, while the females can be either yellow or dark. Adult butterflies primarily focus on reproduction, and their colorful wings enable them to find mates easily.
Comparison between male and female tiger swallowtail butterflies:
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Yellow | Yellow or Dark |
| Primary objective | Reproduction | Reproduction |
To summarize:
- Adult butterflies focus on reproduction
- Males are yellow, females can be yellow or dark
- Vibrant colors aid in finding mates
Habitat and Distribution
Geographical Range
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a common and beautiful butterfly found in North America. Its distribution ranges from east of the Mississippi River to some Great Plains states1 and several Mexican states2. While the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) is mostly found in the western regions of North America3.
Native Habitats
Tiger Swallowtails prefer native habitats such as:
- Forests: Deciduous forests, where they often feed on the leaves of trees4.
- Fields: Open fields with plenty of flowers for nectar4.
- Parks: Urban parks and gardens, where they can find a variety of flowers4.
Sub-types of Tiger Swallowtails:
- Yellow form: Seen in both male and female Eastern Tiger Swallowtails; characterized by yellow and black stripes5.
- Female dark form: Females can also exhibit a black form with dark black stripes and blue scales on the hindwings5.
Comparison Table: Eastern vs. Western Tiger Swallowtails
| Feature | Eastern (P. glaucus) | Western (P. rutulus) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographical Range | East of Mississippi River | Western regions of North America |
| Coloration | Yellow form, Yellow/black | Similar to Eastern, slight variations in colors |
Do Tiger Swallowtails migrate?
- Swallowtail species typically do not migrate6.
- They go through a life cycle where they transform from eggs, larvae, pupae, and then adult butterflies6.
Host Plants and Diet
Preferred Trees
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is known for its specific taste in host plants, particularly trees. One of their main preferences is black cherry trees, which also support a wide variety of other butterfly and moth species1. Other examples of preferred trees:
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Tulip Poplar
- Birch Trees
Nectar Sources
Adult tiger swallowtail butterflies enjoy nectar from various flowering species. Some common nectar plants they visit4 include:
- Butterfly Bush
- Cone Flowers
- Milkweed
- Phlox
- Lilac
- Ironweed
- Wild Cherry
A table comparing two nectar sources for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies:
| Nectar Sources | Flower Characteristics | Butterfly Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfly Bush | Fragrant, produces elongated spikes of tiny blooms | Easily accessible nectar for feeding |
| Milkweed | Clustered, colorful flowers | Nutrient-rich nectar |
In summary, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly utilizes specific host trees during its larval stage and relies on a variety of nectar sources as an adult. Providing these plants and trees in a garden can help support these beautiful insects.
Footnotes
- US Forest Service ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
- EDIS ↩ ↩2
- Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility ↩ ↩2
- https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-tiger-swallowtail ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/TigerSwallowtail.shtml ↩ ↩2
- https://www.fws.gov/page/habitat-conservation-plan-handbook-toolbox ↩ ↩2
4 Comments. Leave new
My name is Carletta Hall and this comment is not for the swallow-tailed this comment is for the springtails my body has been being infested with these things for over 3 years they get into everything with the human touch and I’ll try just about everything except Lysol to get them off of my body I found it coconut oils or lavender scented things they are repulsed by but the eggs they lay in my hair and other parts of my body just my total body I can’t get ahead of them I really need some help here and doctors some people you tell they can’t conceive that above could be on your body like this and you can’t get the things off not to the satisfaction of them not reproducing on you please help me I would other testimonials about these bugs and not have the same symptoms that I do please reply or comments help me thank you
Hello we found this exact caterpillar in our back yard in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. I have a picture of you would like to see it. Do you possibly know why or how this guy is here in Idaho at the very end of August?
We just found one in Bear Lake, Ut the 6th of September
5500 feet on Catson City Nevada. I’ve got that caterpillar here !