The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a large and striking butterfly with wingspan ranging from 3.5 to 6 inches (8.9 to 15.2 cm).
Males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism:
Males: Bright yellow wings with black stripes. Hindwings typically have blue spots near the margins.
Females: Two color morphs – yellow and black, mimicking the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail. The yellow morph resembles males, while the black morph mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail.
Both sexes have distinctive tiger-like stripes on their wings, which give them their name.
Known Range:
Native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada to Florida and west to the Great Plains.
Found in various habitats including forests, woodlands, parks, gardens, and urban areas.
Diet:
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of various plants including:
Wild cherry (Prunus species)
Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Adults primarily feed on nectar from a wide range of flowers including milkweed, lilac, and phlox.
Breeding and Lifecycle:
Breeding occurs during the warmer months.
Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtails lay eggs singly on host plants.
Caterpillars hatch from eggs and undergo several instars before pupating.
Pupation occurs within a chrysalis.
Adults emerge from the chrysalis after a period of approximately 10 to 15 days.
The entire lifecycle from egg to adult typically spans several weeks.
