Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a common sight at Glenstone and one of the most recognizable butterflies in the eastern United States. As their common name suggests, the wings of these butterflies feature four dark stripes reminiscent of a tiger and long “tails” on their hindwings. Male Papilio glaucus have yellow wings and stripes while the females can either have yellow or black wings and stripes. The females are also distinguished from their male counterparts by a row of blue chevrons along the front of their hindwing and blue iridescence present on the interior hindwing. Adult eastern tiger swallowtails can be found at Glenstone from spring to fall feeding on the nectar of flowers—and while not too picky, they seem to prefer red or pink flowers like milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias syriaca) and Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium).

–Carly Davis