# Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (*Papilio glaucus*) The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a large, beautiful butterfly with yellow and black stripes. It flutters gracefully among flowers! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 565 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and gardens - **Also known as:** Tiger Swallowtail ![Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424530/objects/5482.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a large butterfly, typically bright yellow with striking black 'tiger' stripes on its wings. Some females are entirely dark black, mimicking toxic butterflies. Its hindwings often feature a row of blue spots and a splash of orange. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Papilionidae - **Genus:** Papilio ## Interesting facts - Adult males have special scent scales on their wings to attract females. - Caterpillars build a silken mat on leaves to rest and hide. - Its tongue is like a long straw that unrolls to sip flower nectar! - These butterflies sometimes gather in 'puddling' groups to drink minerals from wet dirt! ## Special abilities - **Clever Disguise:** Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars can look like bird droppings when small, and later develop 'fake eyes' to resemble a snake's head to scare predators. - **Master Mimicry:** Some female Eastern Tiger Swallowtails have dark wings that mimic the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail, helping them avoid hungry birds. - **Nectar Sip:** Eastern Tiger Swallowtails have a long, coiled proboscis that unrolls like a straw, helping them sip sweet nectar deep inside flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 76-150 mm - **Size:** 50-75 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet nectar from many flowers; caterpillars munch on tree leaves. - **Age differences:** Young caterpillars eat tree leaves, while adult butterflies drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Tulip tree leaves, Wild cherry leaves, Lilac nectar, Milkweed nectar, Thistle nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Tulip Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tulip-tree) (*Liriodendron tulipifera*) — Caterpillars munch its leaves for growth. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adults sip nectar, helping plant reproduction. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Sometimes caught by this bird. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern 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 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail's wingspan? 76-150 mm ### How big is Eastern Tiger Swallowtail? 50-75 mm ### How long does Eastern Tiger Swallowtail live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Eastern Tiger Swallowtail fly? 25 km/h ### What does Eastern Tiger Swallowtail eat? Adults sip sweet nectar from many flowers; caterpillars munch on tree leaves. ### Where is Eastern Tiger Swallowtail usually found? Wetlands and gardens ### How does Eastern Tiger Swallowtail hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-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: [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail)