Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata W.F. Kirby, 1884
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of male forewing with narrow black stripes. Each hindwing has 2 tails.
Wing Span: 3 1/2 - 5 inches (9 - 12.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol stream courses or city streets for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on leaves of host plant. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight May to mid-August in North, most of year in South.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of ash (Fraxinus), hop tree (Ptelea), and chokecherry (Prunus).
Adult Food: Nectar from thistles, milkweeds, California buckeye, lilac, and many others.
Habitat: Foothill slopes and canyons, moist valleys, streamsides, woodlands, parks, roadsides, suburbs, and cities.
Range: Western North America south from British Columbia, east to central Nebraska and central Texas, south through Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1042 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: eperry
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: Harmony
Region: Texas, Kerr County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: CandaceKBO
Region: Texas, Kerr County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: srhflsmck
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Herkyl
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: Herkyl
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: wingz2fly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: wingz2fly
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: thekelliebly
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Patton
Region: Custer County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 15, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: missamerica82
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2017
Submitted by: DonDeCamp
Region: Uintah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: rgreimel
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Ortonio
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2017
Submitted by: mscalora
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
- 1 of 44
- next ›