Western Tiger Swallowtail
Scientific Name: Papilio rutulus
Category: insect
Brief Description
A large, vibrant yellow butterfly with black tiger-like stripes and tails on its hindwings, often seen fluttering through gardens and woodlands.
Characteristics
Wingspan of 7 to 10 cm. Bright yellow wings with four black bars on the forewings. The hindwings feature blue and orange spots near a long, thin 'tail' extension.
Habitat
Find in canyons, riverside forests, parks, and suburban gardens across Western North America.
When to Find It
Typically active from spring through late summer; most visible during warm, sunny daylight hours.
Conservation Status
Secure / Common
Ecological Role
Acts as an important pollinator for a variety of native wildflowers and garden plants.
Easily Confused With
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (different range), Two-tailed Swallowtail (larger with two tails per wing), and Anise Swallowtail (more black on the wing base).
Observation Tips
Look for them near nectar-rich flowers like Joe-Pye weed, zinnia, or thistle. They are also known to congregate at mud puddles for minerals ('puddling').
Interesting Facts
The caterpillars are masters of mimicry; young larvae resemble bird droppings, while mature green larvae have large 'eyespots' to look like small snakes.