The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is mostly indigenous to the eastern parts of the United States. The black stripes on its yellow body have perhaps earned it the name “tiger”. The males are bright yellow with black stripes, while the females can exhibit two different color forms; yellow and black or black and blue.

 

Male

“Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly” by David Marvin, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Female

“Eastern Tiger Swallowtail” by Ken Slade, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Female

“Eastern Tiger Swallowtail” by Ken Slade, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Facts

Butterfly Family: Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Papilioninae

Butterfly Wingspan: 2 1/2 – 4 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Deciduous broadleaf woods, forest edges, river valleys, parks, and suburbs

 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Tulip Poplar Tree
• Cherry Tree
• Plum Tree
• American Basswod
• Eastern Cottonwood
• Chokecherry
• Spicebush
• Prickly Ash
• White Ash
• Green Ash
• Sassafras
• Hickory Tree
• Hop Tree

Nectar Plants:

• Common Milkweed
• Butterfly Weed
• Purple Coneflower
• Joe-Pye Weed
• Bee Balm
• Lantana
• Blazing Star
• Verbena
• Ironweed
• Mountain Mint
• Goldenrod
• Zinnia