(Pterourus eurymedon – formerly Papilio eurymedon)
Swallowtails
Appearance: Above, pale cream or whitish background and heavy black stripes. It also shows broad black borders on the trailing edges of both wings with cream (can appear white) colored dashes and crescents within the borders. Below, the forewing and hindwing are similar to Western Tiger Swallowtails with dark stripes and black margins, but are cream and black and there is an orange crescent spot leading into the tail.
Wingspan: Large; 2 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches.
Habitat: Streams, canyons and open areas in forested regions; plains, foothills, montane.
Flight Times: May to August; one brood. Dark-colored chrysalis overwinters.
Larval Foodplant: Buckbrush, chokecherry, alder, wild plum, and others.
Did You Know…
This is the only cream and black swallowtail in the west and is more likely to be found flying near hilltops and along ridge tops than either the Two-tailed or Western Tiger Swallowtail. Most of our swallowtails overwinter in the chrysalis stage.
