Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
Last reviewed: June 2026
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is known for its Bold yellow wings with dramatic black tiger stripes.
Host plants
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Tulip-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- Rum Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
- Bigtree Plum (Prunus mexicana)
- Texas Ash (Fraxinus texensis)
- Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
- Red Birch (Betula nigra)
Want Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in your yard? Open Tulip-poplar in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Papilionidae
Wingspan
93–152 mm
Active
April through September
Range
TX, AL, AR, CT and 34 more states
How to identify it
Look for large yellow butterflies with black tiger-like stripes and distinctive swallowtail wing extensions.
Good to know
- Female butterflies can be either yellow or dark morph
- Males are always yellow and territorial
- One of the largest butterfly species in North America
Common questions
- What do Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars eat?
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars feed on Liriodendron tulipifera, Prunus serotina, Sassafras albidum, Prunus mexicana, Fraxinus texensis, Magnolia grandiflora, and Betula nigra. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do Eastern Tiger Swallowtail live?
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is found across TX, AL, AR, CT and 34 more states.
- When are Eastern Tiger Swallowtail active?
- Adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail are typically on the wing from April through September.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist, GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by-nc.