The Western Tiger Swallowtail is a beautiful, common butterfly, yellow with black stripes. The Western Tiger Swallowtail has all the hallmarks of its genus and comfortably resides between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. These are active butterflies that prefer sunny habitats and can also be seen puddling in the mud, flocking together in large numbers. They are very active butterflies, rarely seen at rest. Your email address will not be published. Western tiger swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) Pest description and damage The tiger swallowtail larvae feed on leaves of cherry family plants, willows and a few other species. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Western Swallowtail is often seen in meadows, woodland edges, streamsides and suburban gardens in the Western United States and the southern areas of British Columbia. The wings are edged in black and the longest black stripes on the butterfly are on the inner parts of the wings nearest to the insect’s body. Papilio rutulus, the western tiger swallowtail, is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America, frequently seen in urban parks and gardens, as well as in rural woodlands and riparian areas. will only copy the licensed content. Most butterflies that you are likely to see in the wild are not very  big. When the wings are open, they It can also frequently seen puddling at mud spots in large numbers. Here are 5 fun Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly facts that you are sure to enjoy and, hopefully, learn something new. Check out current campfire bans and forest use restrictions for the province of BC. Jakes Nature Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Att the back edge of its wings are two tails and just above the tails several blue spots and two orange spots. I am an artist, writer, amateur entomologist and wilderness guide. The wings are yellow with black stripes and blue and orange spots near their tail. The wingspan is in the 2 1/4" - 3 7/8" range. Required fields are marked *. When the egg hatches, a caterpillar emerges that has a body covered in rows of blue dots with four yellow dots near its head. The Western Tiger Swallowtail are butterflies that belong to the popular ‘swallowtail’ group that is well-known for their vibrant coloration and characteristic triangular wings. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). They usually hatch out around four days after the eggs are laid. I’ll keep my eyes peeled though. This is a sage with light green foliage and and purplish blue flowers. Species rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail - Hodges#4177) Hodges Number . As they begin to molt, they turn bright Average wingspan: You can mainly find this butterfly in wooded areas near water, such as rivers or creeks. The western tiger swallowtail has a wingspan that is up to 10 cm. It is similar to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, distinguished by location. Super cool! Hi, my name is Bud. Life span is about 6-14 days. stripe patterns, while the rounded borders of the secondary wings have a cyan blue hue that runs parallel to the margin. This species can best be located in the summer, especially between June and July. Find us at 3025 Comox Road, Courtenay BC. In summer, the butterfly can emerge as quickly as 15 days after the caterpillar pupated, but when the caterpillar pupates in the fall, the butterfly does not emerge until the spring. spines. I love to see butterflies flying around on a nice summer day. The butterfly is bright yellow with four distinct black striped markings mainly on its upper wings. There are several similar swallowtail butterflies that live in the Rockies. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Western Tiger Swallowtail is a common butterfly of the Rocky Mountains that you have likely seen at some point. A western tiger swallowtail begins its life in a green egg. They molt five times and can reach a maximum length of 5 cm. and blue pupils. For example, in California you can see this butterfly flying for up to 6 months a year. It is similar to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, distinguished by location. Well, the Western Tiger Swallowtail is larger than those, with a wingspan of up to 4 inches. show a white to pale yellowish white base with random black stripes and bands When the western tiger swallowtail is a caterpillar it eats leaves from trees and shrubs, such as willow, alder, bitter cherry, cottonwood, poplar and trembling aspen. Look at this beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection. I am the owner of gohiking.ca. woodland edges, A wide variety of host plants including These large butterflies are brightly colored. The caterpillars often feed on Sycamore, Fremont Cottonwood, Willows and Alder. The Western Tiger Swallowtail are butterflies that belong to the popular ‘swallowtail’ group that is well-known for their vibrant coloration and characteristic triangular wings. Western Tiger Swallowtail lands on the flower of Malacothamnus clementinus. I've brought those together here in my blog where I share fun nature facts, some of our adventures, and give hiking tips. It is a member of the Papilio genus, of which Papilio appalachiensis and Papilio xuthus are also members. Western Tiger Swallowtail lands on the leaf of Malacothamnus clementinus. The caterpillars molt five times, eventually reaching a length up to 5 cm before pupating. In the last stage of development, an adult western tiger swallowtail emerges from the cocoon with wings. Life span is about 6-14 days. Generally limited to isolated numbers on single trees. Updated: 8/23/2019; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org Like all Tiger Swallowtails, the Western Tiger Swallowtail is yellow with long, black stripes on its forewings, resembling that familiar pattern seen on tigers. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25322931@N00/3507770476, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_rutulus. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1852. It is a large, brightly colored and active butterfly, rarely seen at rest; its wingspan is 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in), and its wings are yellow... You can copy this taxon into another guide. l have spent my life in the outdoors. and about ten black spines protruding from the ventral side. Photos of Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies. They have the "tails" on the hindwings that are often found in swallowtails. However, it lives throughout much of North America and has a longer adult form in the warmer areas. They like Lobelia dunnii serrata a sky blue Lobelia that grows in most areas in part sun. The Western Tiger Swallowtail tends to hang out close to water, along canyons and even in our beloved city parks. Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar, Vancouver Island, BC, Photo By Robert Logan. You can tell them apart by their size and coloring. Just remember that there are a few different types. Butterflies emerge from winter chrysalids between February and May, the date depending on the temperature, so they are seen earlier in the more southerly and more coastal parts of their range. I can’t say I’ve ever seen one of these little guys ( I live in Ohio ). wings. Color and Appearance: Watching butterflies hovering in the air or sitting on a blooming wildflower is just one of those special moments about the Rockies that I just want to capture and hold in my minds eye. It is a member of the genus Papilio, of which Papilio appalachie… The hind wings also have small patches of blue and a spot or two of orange on them. For camouflage, the young caterpillars, as they hatch out, What's up nature addict! The chrysalis is green in summer and dark brown in winter, and looks like a piece of wood. When the egg hatches, a caterpillar emerges that has a body covered in rows of blue dots with four yellow dots near its head. I love to see butterflies flying around on a nice summer day. green in color, with large, yellow eyespot marks studded with black The wingspan is in the 2 1/4" - 3 7/8" range. This it why it is called a swallowtail, because the rear of the butterflies’ wings look like the tail of a swallowtail bird. The western tiger swallowtail is a member of the family papilionidae, which consists of other subspecies of swallowtail butterflies. willows, aspens, ashes, poplars, alders, and cottonwood, Flower nectar especially those of thistles, zinnia, abelia, yerba