Papilio canadensis

Rothschild & Jordan, 1906

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

A medium-sized with yellow and black striped wings, found across northern North America. fly during spring and summer with a single . The was formerly considered a of Papilio glaucus but is now recognized as distinct based on morphological and genetic differences. It exhibits regional to climate, with northern showing faster development rates in cooler temperatures.

Papilio canadensis by (c) Bex Goreham, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bex Goreham. Used under a CC-BY license.Papillon tigré du Canada by Maxime Laterreur. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Papilio canadensis PJC2 by Cephas. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Papilio canadensis: /pəˈpiː.li.oʊ kæ.nəˈdɛn.sɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) by smaller size (67–80 mm vs. 75–140 mm), continuous yellow marginal band on forewing underside (broken in P. glaucus), and more extensive orange hindwing scaling. Distinguished from western tiger swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) by geographic range and wing pattern details. Hybridization with both P. glaucus and P. rutulus has been documented but is extremely rare.

Images

Habitat

Woodland edges, deciduous and mixed forests, riparian areas, and open areas near forest. Common around woodland edges where frequently puddle.

Distribution

Canada: most provinces and territories, ranging north of the Arctic Circle in Yukon, to Churchill (Manitoba), Little Shagamu River (Ontario), and Schefferville (Quebec). Absent from southern British Columbia (replaced by P. rutulus) and parts of southwestern Ontario west of Toronto (replaced by P. glaucus). Present in western and central Newfoundland; unreported from Labrador. United States: northern third of the country.

Seasonality

active during spring and summer. One per year. Adults emerge in May; period extends through summer months. Pupae overwinter.

Diet

feed on nectar. Larvae feed on leaves of woody plants: Betula (birches), Populus (poplars, aspens, cottonwoods), Malus (apple), and Prunus serotina (black cherry).

Host Associations

  • Betula - larval plantbirches
  • Populus - larval plantpoplars, aspens, cottonwoods
  • Malus - larval plantapple trees
  • Prunus serotina - larval plantblack cherry

Life Cycle

Single (). Females lay singly on plant leaves. Larvae fold and tie host plant leaves together with silk to create feeding shelters. Caterpillars progress through five instars; early instars brown and white, mimicking bird droppings; later instars green with yellow dots and false eyespots with bluish centers, appearing snake-like in profile. Pupae overwinter, with emerging in May.

Behavior

frequently engage in puddling , gathering in large numbers (sometimes hundreds) at single puddles to obtain minerals. One of the most popular puddling within its range. Larvae construct leaf shelters by folding and tying leaves with silk.

Ecological Role

Herbivore as larva; as . Subject to competition with gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) mediated by plant chemistry, , and .

Human Relevance

Popular and well-known in northern North America. Frequently observed by naturalists and butterfly enthusiasts. Subject of ecological research on climate and plant associations.

Similar Taxa

  • Papilio glaucusOverlaps in range in some areas; distinguished by larger size (75–140 mm), broken yellow marginal band on forewing underside, and less extensive orange hindwing scaling
  • Papilio rutulusReplaces P. canadensis in southern British Columbia; distinguished by geographic separation and subtle wing pattern differences

Misconceptions

Formerly classified as a of Papilio glaucus; now recognized as distinct based on morphological, genetic, and ecological differences.

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Sources and further reading