Description
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a large, eye-catching butterfly with yellow wings featuring bold black tiger stripes, blue and orange spots on the hindwings, and is commonly found in forests, fields, and gardens across eastern North America.
Range
Southern two-thirds of the state.
Similar Species
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is extremely similar but only occurs in the northern third of the state. It differs habitat as well as having a solid yellow band on the outer margin of the forewing below and a different black line on the hindwing below. The dark form of ETB can resemble a Black Swallowtail but only has one row of orange spots below, and above, has only a thin row of yellow spots on the forewing.
Host Plants
Larvae feed on tree species including: Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Apple (Malus domestica), Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), Ash (Fraxinus spp.)
Flight
Overwinters as a chrysalis, and can emerge as early as April and can fly until October (depending on the weather)