Swallowtail Butterflies

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio canadensis

canadian

Identification differences between the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has taken me some time to sort out. These two types of butterfly are nearly identical and almost impossible to sort out for a beginner.

From above, with open wings, the only real difference is the black band that runs along the inside of the wing along the body. This black band is broader on the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail. This marker is not convincing enough for me at this point in butterfly idenfication and I rely more on the underside of the wing identification markers.

For underside wing identification, it is the yellow stripe on the fore (upper) wing that is the most convincing identification method for the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail. The picture below shows this yellow band on the underside of the forewing. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has a black band with yellow spots in this area. Some views of this underside of the wing will show what appears to be yellow spots as the light pushes the upperside spots view through. These spots will still be against a yellow background rather than a black background.

canadian2


Pictures taken June 17, 2008

Wing span: 2 5/8 - 3 1/8 inches.

Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of birch (Betula), aspen (Populus), and black cherry (Prunus).

Females lay eggs singly on host leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and rest on silken mats in shelters of curled leaves. Chrysalids overwinter.

Habitat: Northern deciduous and evergreen-deciduous woods and forest edges.



Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Superclass Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Subclass Pterygota (Winged Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies)
Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
Subfamily Papilioninae
Genus Papilio
Species canadensis (Canadian Tiger Swallowtail)

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