Tag: Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus)

Oh The Pollinators

August 8, 2026

I’ve always admired the ability of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens) to attract pollinators. It’s not a native plant, which normally would really discourage me from planting it, and in many circumstances it is quite the aggressive plant, which would be an additional strike against it. But my back hill is perfect for keeping it under control. And as I said, it attracts an incredible number of pollinators.

Yesterday I noticed there were at least 10 Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) busy at the blooms.

The flowers of the Apple Mint seem to be always buzzing with the activity of these and other butterflies, and an assortment of bees large and small, moths, syrphid and tachinid flies, and many more.

One busy patch of mint.

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Ubiquitous Tiger Swallowtails This Spring

April 18, 2026

While one of my sisters was visiting last weekend, she commented on the bounty of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (Papilio glaucus) that are here on the mountain this spring. I’ve noticed that too, and I’d use one of my Dad’s favorite words, ubiquitous, to describe the number that are around right now.

Dark form (female) of Tiger Swallowtail

And what a surprise – female Tiger Swallowtails are in two different color forms. The yellow one, like the one that you are used to seeing, and the black form, shown above. The black form is nearly all black, and commonly shows subtle black stripes, seen when the lighting and the viewer’s angle is just right. This color form has the appearance of a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) which discourages its predators with an unpleasant taste. The male is always the usual yellow and black.

Nature is amazing.

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