Characteristics
The color of the eastern tiger swallowtail can vary. Males are yellow or yellow-orange with black tiger stripes. Their wings are bordered in black with yellow spots and there are black "tiger stripes" running across the top of their wings. Their long black tails have blue patches on them. Female colors can range from the yellow of the male to an almost solid bluish-black. Their wing span is between
3 5/8 and 6 ½ inches.
RangeThe eastern tiger swallowtail can be found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains from Ontario south to the Gulf coast and northern Mexico.
Habitat
The eastern tiger swallowtail lives in deciduous woods along streams, rivers and swamps.
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Food
Eastern tiger swallowtail larvae eat the leaves of a variety of woody plants including wild cherry, tulip, birch, ash, cottonwood and willow. Adults eat the nectar of flowers from a variety of plants.
Life Cycle
Females lay single green colored eggs on the leaves of woody plants.
The caterpillar is brown and white when it is young; when it matures it is green with orange and black false eyespots. The
chrysalids overwinter.
Behavior
Eastern tiger swallowtails are loners. Males will fly from place to place looking for a mate.
Image Credits: Clipart.com unless otherwise noted
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