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 145 - 168 of 1277 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: EvSherr
Region: Lane County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2022
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Rozelle Wright
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2022
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2022
Submitted by: Vickie J Anderson
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: NBBAM
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 15, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: brbequ
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: Feb 19, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: shinobi1
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 03, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 15, 2021
Submitted by: Samela95437
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2022
Observation date: May 22, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2022
Submitted by: Brent Blair
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2022
Observation date: May 02, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 07, 2022
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