Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

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.

Identified on: 4/16/2026