Insect · GBIF taxon 1938016
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucusAlso known as Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger
These large, striking butterflies glide gracefully through open woodlands, suburban gardens, and forest edges across eastern North America. Males patrol territories along rivers and canopy gaps, while females lay single green eggs on the leaves of host trees like wild cherry and tulip tree. The caterpillars undergo a dramatic transformation, starting as bird-dropping mimics before turning bright green with large, startling eyespots to deter predators.
DiurnalPollinatorColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower nectar
- Mineral-rich mud
- Tree sap
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Spiders
- Dragonflies
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, pesticide use, and loss of native host trees.
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodland edges, river valleys, parks, and suburban gardens.
Life spanAbout 10 to 14 days as an adult; up to one month total including egg, larval, and pupal stages.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPapilionidae
- 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
- Create a puddle: Place a shallow dish of wet sand or mud in the sun to attract males seeking essential minerals.
- Plant host trees: Grow wild black cherry, tulip tree, or sweetbay magnolia to encourage females to lay eggs in your yard.
- Watch the canopy: Look up into the treetops on sunny afternoons to spot males patrolling their territories.
Mimicry Model (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by M. Whitson · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Patty Mitchum, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patty Mitchum · 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
Close Relative "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
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.