Bug Identifier
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Community identification

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Papilionidae
Size
3 to 5.5 inches (7.6 to 14 cm) wingspan
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Deciduous woods, gardens, parks, and suburban areas across the eastern United States and parts of Canada.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on the nectar of wild flowers like milkweed and ironweed. Caterpillars eat leaves from host trees such as wild cherry, tulip tree, and sweetbay magnolia.

Behavior Patterns

Diurnal flyers that are often seen 'puddling' on damp ground for minerals. They undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and produce two to three broods per year depending on the climate.

Risks & Benefits

Poses no risk to humans; they are valuable pollinators for many native wildflower species and a vital part of the food web.