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 217 - 240 of 1277 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: Butterflycindy61
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: Robert C. Turner
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: May 27, 2021
Submitted by: tmtinsley
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: Wscott
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: Kathy Early
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: saguaro
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2021
Submitted by: Nature IsFirst
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: sheritresko
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 15, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: Jeannineandscott
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2013
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2021
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