Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Swallowtails are large, eye-catching butterflies with long tails that resemble the forked tail feathers of swallows. Brightly striped or spotted with highly contrasting colors, these butterflies are among the easiest to spot in the eastern United States.

Look For : Yellow wings with black stripes; long, black tail on each hind wing; and yellow-spotted black band along rear edges of wings. Some females have dark wings with yellow-and-blue spots near the edge.

Length : 3 1/8-5 7/8".

Habitat : Forests, meadows, parks, suburbs, gardens.

Range : East of the Rockies.