Insect · GBIF taxon 1938016
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucusAlso known as Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern tiger swallowtail males patrol treetops and sunny glades in search of females, while dark-morph females mimic the toxic pipevine swallowtail to evade hungry birds. Caterpillars construct silken mats on host leaves that curl the foliage into protective daytime shelters. Adults frequently engage in puddling on wet gravel, sipping mineral-rich water to enhance male reproductive success.
PollinatorDiurnalDimorphic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower Nectar
- Tulip Tree Leaves
- Wild Cherry Leaves
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsPesticide application, habitat loss, and extreme spring frosts
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, forest edges, parks, river valleys, and suburban gardens
Life span10–14 days as adult; up to 1 year including pupal stage
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyPapilionidae
- GenusPapilio
- SpeciesPapilio glaucus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Puddling Observation: Scan damp soil or muddy riverbanks on warm mornings where males gather to sip dissolved salts.
- Native Landscaping: Plant nectar-rich blooms such as Joe-Pye weed and milkweed to draw adults into garden spaces.
Mimicry Model "spicebush swallowtail caterpillar" by USFWS Headquarters is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Nicholas A. Tonelli, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Bex Goreham, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bex Goreham · cc-by
Co-Occurring Relative "black swallowtail caterpillar" by animantis is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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