Featured Image: A stunning Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) perched on vibrant purple flowers — a vivid reminder of nature’s elegance and complexity.
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Mating Habits
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails engage in graceful courtship rituals. Males patrol territories and release pheromones to attract females. Once accepted, mating occurs by joining their abdomens, and females later lay eggs on host plants like wild cherry, tulip trees, and ash.
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Diet
Adult swallowtails feed primarily on nectar from flowers such as:
• Milkweed
• Joe-Pye weed
• Butterfly bush
• Purple coneflower
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of host trees like:
• Tulip poplar
• Wild cherry
• Birch
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Life Span
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail’s life cycle includes:
• Egg: 4–10 days
• Caterpillar: 3–4 weeks
• Chrysalis: 2–3 weeks (can overwinter)
• Adult Butterfly: 2–4 weeks
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Migration Patterns
While not long-distance migrators like Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails do disperse regionally across North America, especially in warmer months. They’re commonly seen from spring through late summer.
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Fun-Filled Facts
1. Females can be yellow or black — a rare example of sexual dimorphism.
2. They’re one of the largest butterflies in North America, with wingspans up to 5.5 inches.
3. Caterpillars mimic bird droppings when young to avoid predators.
4. Adults are powerful fliers and often seen gliding gracefully through open woodlands and gardens.
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At One Toad Photography, we celebrate nature’s intricate beauty. This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, captured in a moment of quiet elegance, reminds us to pause and appreciate the small wonders around us.