Papilio eurymedon (Pale Tiger Swallowtail, Bleicher Tigerschwalbenschwanz)

Papilio eurymedon, also called Pale Tiger Swallowtail or Bleicher Tigerschwalbenschwanz is a butterfly from Nearctic ecozone (North America). The first description was in 1852 by Lucas. With a wingspan of 8.5 – 9.5 cm the Pale Tiger Swallowtail is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is yellowish with typical broad and black tiger stripes.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

These are nice photos of Papilio eurymedon (Pale Tiger Swallowtail). Papilio eurymedon is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Nearctic (North America).

Description

The forewings are yellowish. The margin is black and include one chain of little white spots. There are three broad black stripes. The veins are black.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the chain of white spots is broader than upside.

The hind wings are yellowish. The margin is black and include one chain of big white and red spots. The veins are black. There is only one black strip. In back there is a red and black eye with blue eye shadow. There are some other little blue spots.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some differences. The black veins and the chain of white spots are broader than upside. There is a blue band in the black margin.

The body is black.

Sex differences: None.

Macro photos

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio eurymedon (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio eurymedon (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio eurymedon (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio eurymedon (underside)

Here you can see some macro photos of Papilio eurymedon.

Distribution

The Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) is a butterfly of the Nearctic ecozone (North America). The distribution include the East of USA (Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) and Canada (British Columbia).

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Larval food

Rosaceae:

Amelanchier alnifolia
Crataegus douglasii
Crataegus rivularis
Holodiscus discolor
Malus pumila
Prunus domestica
Prunus emarginata
Prunus ilicifolia
Prunus persica
Prunus virginiana

Rhamnaceae:

Ceanothus cordulatus
Ceanothus cuneatus
Ceanothus fendleri
Ceanothus integerrimus
Ceanothus prostratus
Ceanothus sanguineus
Ceanothus velutinus
Frangula californica
Frangula rubra
Rhamnus crocea

Salicaceae:

Salix

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1852 by Lucas. There are no subspecies.

The distribution of Pale Tiger Swallowtail overlap with the distributions of other Tiger Swallowtails.
A simple differentiator is the dark design of Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon).

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)