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 193 - 216 of 1277 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: lswanson
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2021
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: MartyGiffen
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: May 30, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: HW0421
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: EvSherr
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: wingedwatcher
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Marion County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: NodYak
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: bayoumom62
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: Karen Richardson
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 13, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: NBBAM
Region: San Juan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
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