Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

In Minnesota, when most people think of butterflies, they think of the monarch. With their orange-red wings with black veins and white spots along the edges, they are the state butterfly, after all. However, the next most common butterfly in Minnesota may be the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

This gorgeous yellow and black striped butterfly appears from April to September and can be found in the woods, near water, in a prairie, at your home garden, practically anywhere.  

The quickest way to tell females apart from males is the blue coloring towards the bottom of their wings. While females have these bright blue spots, the males do not.

The Tiger Swallowtail gets its name from the yellow and black stripes you see on their back, resembling that of a tiger. So, the next time you head out, make sure to keep your eyes open for this beautiful insect.