Finding Utah Butterflies-->Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus)

 


Overview:


In Utah, The Western Tiger Swallowtail flies along river courses much more commonly in our mountain canyons than it does in our valley floors. However, populations of this butterfly seem to be much more common along the Provo River Parkway and adjacent Utah Lake than they are along the Jordan River Parkway. The Western Tiger Swallowtail also can be found in Cache Valley near the Logan River and the mouth of Logan Canyon and other nearby canyons. Adults appear on the wing from late May through early August depending upon elevation. During favorable years, males of the Western Tiger Swallowtail will sometimes congregate in numbers to mudpuddle along canyon roadways in June.

Although they frequently fly together, Western Tiger Swallowtails prefer moister canyons than Two Tailed Swallowtails because caterpillar host plants of tiger swallowtails (willow, birch, and aspen) need plenty of water.

Note: To leverage the next section and fly to specific locations, you need to install Google Earth.

Specific Localities:


Provo River Parkway, Provo, Utah County, Utah.  N40 14'16.13" W111 43'49.63" or click here.
American Fork Canyon, Mutual Dell, Utah County, Utah.  N40 26'52.98" W111 38'41.47" or click here.
Lambs Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah. N40 44'4.36" W111 40'13.04" or click here.
Mueller Park, Bountiful, Davis County, Utah. N40 51'41.06" W111 49'51.61" or click here.
Blacksmith Fork Canyon, Leatham Hollow, Cache County, Utah. N41 38'34.20" W111 42'23.40"
or click here.

Flight Periods:


Tiger Swallowtails can be found from Late May through July in the valley floor and at low elevation canyons and from June to August at higher elevations.

Raising Caterpillars Resources:


Finding Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars is difficult in Utah because of how much host plant grows where the butterfly flies. The most productive way to get caterpillars is to collect a live female and set her up in a cage to lay eggs. See the link below for tips on how to raise this butterfly.

Raising Butterflies: http://www.raisingbutterflies.org/papilio-rutulus-rutulus/  

 

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