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 169 - 192 of 1277 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: jmthornton
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 06, 2022
Submitted by: Lori Bellis
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 25, 2017
Submitted by: azendejas
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2018
Submitted by: Tbear
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: Canuck80
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 19, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2019
Submitted by: KMSprings
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 12, 2022
Observation date: Oct 23, 2013
Submitted by: Bobbielee
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 10, 2019
Submitted by: Jasper
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2018
Submitted by: Catssass
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2017
Submitted by: Niceroad
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 03, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2015
Submitted by: deniseng
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: sabine_b
Region: Washington County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 29, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2014
Submitted by: Colton Bennett
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Arley
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2012
Submitted by: joshwintoniak
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Iron County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: MEW2021
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: mongoose
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 05, 2021
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