Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus Lucas, 1852
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of hindwing with upper-most marginal spot yellow or lacking. Underside of forewing with separate yellow spots forming marginal band. Hindwing has narrow marginal spots and no orange tint except for 2 spots near end of inner margin.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 4 inches (7 - 10 cm).
Life History: Males patrol canyons or hilltops for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on surface of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of cottonwood and aspen (Populus), willows (Salix), wild cherry (Prunus), and ash (Fraxinus).
Adult Food: Nectar from many flowers including thistles, abelia, California buckeye, zinnia, and yerba santa.
Habitat: Woodlands near rivers and streams, wooded suburbs, canyons, parks, roadsides, and oases.
Range: Western North America from British Columbia south to southern New Mexico and Baja California; east to western South Dakota and southeast Colorado. A rare stray to central Nebraska.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 1277 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: Stacey A Tullis
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: pdxgene711
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2023
Submitted by: Lrcpa
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: LHenriksen
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: pdxgene711
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Chiquitanna
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Mpdyer
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 31, 2023
Observation date: May 13, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 21, 2023
Observation date: May 11, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: Abenedyczak
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 06, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: Abenedyczak
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 06, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: Tra_naturehikes
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 13, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 01, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 28, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 25, 2022
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