Habitat

Papilio canadensis, or, as it is more commonly known, the Canadian tiger swallowtail, is often found in the northern regions of North America, as indicated by the map to the left. This butterfly can be found in wooded areas or the open spaces near wooded areas (wisconsinbutterflies.org, 2013). As can bee seen on the map, the Canadian tiger swallowtail is often found in areas of Canada and Alaska, along with the northern regions of the United States (Schlaepfer, 2006).



The Canadian tiger swallowtail can be found in Wisconsin, usually in counties that are farther north. The map to the right indicates where Canadian tiger swallowtails sightings (counties highlighted blue) have been reported by wisconsinbutterflies.org.

This species of swallowtail butterfly enjoys northern deciduous and evergreen forests, especially along streams and in gardens (Schlaepfer, 2006). The caterpillar can often be found on the leaves of birch trees, aspens, or even black cherry trees (butterfliesandmoths.org, 2012). They'll live and eat wherever the female butterfly decides to lay her eggs!

According the J. Scriber and his associates, the reason that the Canadian tiger swallowtail is not often found south of the Great Lakes region is because the warm temperatures (36°C or above) can cause great stress on the organism while it is still in the chrysalis, causing it to die (2002).

The development of swallowtails in their larval form depends greatly on temperature and location. In a study conducted by Matthew Ayres and J. Scriber, it was found that the Canadian tiger swallowtail developed more quickly at low temperatures in Alaska than at higher temperatures in northern Michigan (Ayers et al., 1994).

If you are ever in northern Wisconsin, especially Door County, look around in gardens or open fields near the forest. You'll be likely to find Papilio canadensis fluttering about, along with many other butterfly species!