# Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (*Papilio canadensis*) The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with yellow and black stripes. It flutters around gardens and forests, bringing joy with its colorful wings. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Canadian Tiger Swallowtail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Papilio-canadensis-001.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papilio-canadensis-001.jpg) ## Appearance The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is a large, vibrant butterfly with striking yellow wings marked by bold black tiger-like stripes. Its hindwings feature two distinctive "tails" and subtle blue and orange spots near the edge, setting it apart from similar species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Papilionidae - **Genus:** Papilio ## Interesting facts - Male Canadian Tiger Swallowtails sometimes gather in "puddle clubs" to drink vital minerals from damp soil. - The caterpillars change their skin color from green to brown before they turn into a chrysalis! - These butterflies taste with their feet to find the best flowers for nectar! - They spend most of their life as a caterpillar, only emerging as a beautiful butterfly for a few short weeks! ## Special abilities - **Snake Impersonator:** Canadian Tiger Swallowtail can mimic a snake's head with its caterpillar form because of large eye-like spots that deter predators. - **Chemical Defender:** Canadian Tiger Swallowtail has a special organ called an osmeterium that emits a foul smell when disturbed, helping them ward off attackers. - **Nectar Sipper:** Canadian Tiger Swallowtail can efficiently drink nectar from deep flowers because of its long, coiled proboscis that acts like a straw. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 65-80 mm - **Size:** 30-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their young munch on tree leaves to grow big and strong. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed on tree leaves, while adults drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Trembling aspen leaves, Paper birch leaves, Wild cherry leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Trembling Aspen (*Populus tremuloides*) — Caterpillars eat its leaves for food. - **Depends on:** [Paper Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paper-birch) (*Betula papyrifera*) — Another important host plant for the caterpillars. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adults drink nectar and transfer pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds are common predators of both caterpillars and adults. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Canadian Tiger Swallowtail? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Canadian Tiger Swallowtail's wingspan? 65-80 mm ### How big is Canadian Tiger Swallowtail? 30-45 mm ### How long does Canadian Tiger Swallowtail live? 10-14 days ### How fast can Canadian Tiger Swallowtail fly? 20 km/h ### What does Canadian Tiger Swallowtail eat? Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their young munch on tree leaves to grow big and strong. ### Where is Canadian Tiger Swallowtail usually found? Forests ### How does Canadian Tiger Swallowtail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [South Newbury Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-newbury-village-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Gakona Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gakona-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center) — Alaska, US · Zoo [View all places to see Canadian Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/canadian-tiger-swallowtail) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Canadian Tiger Swallowtail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canadian-tiger-swallowtail)