Papilio multicaudata

Distinguished from Papilio rutulus (western tiger swallowtail) and Papilio glaucus (eastern tiger swallowtail) by: (1) usually having two tails per hindwing rather than one, (2) narrower black stripes on wings, (3) presence of black 'slit pupil' in orange eyespot on hindwing (never present in P. rutulus), and (4) generally larger size. Females have wider black stripes on forewings than males. Does not tend to hybridize with related species as do other tiger swallowtails.

Occurs near streams and in moist valleys, but also found in canyons and cities at lower elevations. Associated with riparian corridors and areas where host plants grow.

Western North America from southern British Columbia, Alberta, and southwestern Saskatchewan in Canada, south through the western United States (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas) to Guatemala and Central America.

Adults fly during spring and summer with one brood per year. Pupae overwinter and emerge in May.

Adults feed on nectar from various flowers. Larvae feed on leaves of host plants including chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata), Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica), single-leaf ash (Fraxinus anomala), hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), and Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii). In California, primarily uses California hoptree (Ptelea crenulata). In other western urban areas, often uses green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) planted along city roads.

• Prunus virginiana - larval food plantchokecherry
• Prunus emarginata - larval food plantbitter cherry
• Vauquelinia californica - larval food plantArizona rosewood
• Fraxinus anomala - larval food plantsingle-leaf ash
• Ptelea trifoliata - larval food planthoptree
• Platanus wrightii - larval food plantArizona sycamore
• Ptelea crenulata - larval food plantCalifornia hoptree; primary host in California
• Fraxinus pennsylvanica - larval food plantgreen ash; commonly used in western cities outside California

Females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves. Caterpillars fold host plant leaves and tie them together with silk, feeding from this protective structure. Pupae overwinter and adults emerge in May. One brood per year.

Males engage in mud-puddling behavior. Adults are strong fliers. Caterpillars construct leaf shelters by folding and tying leaves with silk. The orange eyespots on hindwings may serve to deflect predator attacks toward the rear of the butterfly rather than the head, providing an escape opportunity.

Larval herbivore on various woody plants; adult pollinator. Serves as prey for various predators including birds and insects.

State butterfly of Arizona. Popular among butterfly watchers and photographers. Occasionally encountered in urban and suburban gardens where host plants are present.

• Papilio rutulusWestern tiger swallowtail; differs by having only one tail per hindwing, lacking the black 'slit pupil' in the orange eyespot, and having broader black stripes
• Papilio glaucusEastern tiger swallowtail; eastern counterpart with one tail per hindwing, no 'slit pupil' in eyespot, and generally smaller size (though some individuals match P. multicaudata in size)
• Papilio canadensisCanadian tiger swallowtail; northern species with one tail per hindwing and no 'slit pupil'

• butterfly
• swallowtail
• western North America
• Arizona state butterfly
• riparian
• single brood
• mud-puddling

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Papilionidae | Beetles In The Bush