TIGER TIME

Ron Gatrelle gatrelle at tils-ttr.org
Mon Mar 22 15:49:43 EST 2004


It is the time of year when some are beginning to think about the Eastern
(P. glaucus) and Appalachian (P. appalachiensis) Tiger Swallowtails.   So I
have posted a photo of both species in the Leps-Talk photos section.

(One needs to be a subscriber to that Yahoo group and also have a Yahoo ID
& password to access that section.  The home page is at
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TILS-leps-talk/   To join, just click on the
Join This Group link at top of page and follow the steps.   If already a
member and one needs the ID & Password click on
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/groups-48.html and follow the
instructions.)

These two pairs are typical of the phenotypes and sizes encountered at the
type locality region in western NC.   For watchers, here are some keys and
a suggestion.

1)  Appy' females are yellow  and most glaucus females black in Appalachian
region.
2)  Outer edge of hindwing of Appy' has a step form.  In Easterns, it is
undulate.
3)  Easterns may have either a band of spots or a solid line on the
underside of the forewings.  In Appy' the line is always mostly solid to
solid.
4)  The black line on the upperside of the hindwing at the abdomen is
always wide in Appy' and sometimes so in Easterns.
5)  The three yellow areas in the upperside forewing cell are the same size
in Appy' but in Easterns the uppermost one (apical) is noticeably smaller
in the vast majority of specimens.

Suggestion:
Get a plastic mm ruler to net, measure, and release specimens.

In the net, take the specimen gently by the thorax with the wings folded
together above its back.  Reach the other hand inside the net and grasp the
leading edge of the forewings between thumb and forefinger.  Remove from
net head first (so as not to damage the tails).   Place specimen back in
other hand by holding the thorax again.   Measure the forewing from its
base to its tip (apex).

Spring male Easterns measure about 45 to 52 mm
Spring male Appys' will measure about 55 to 65 mm.

It is too early for Appys' in the Appalachians, however I understand they
may have been found already out in the Ozarks.  If so, size will be the
seperating factor.  The Appalachian Tiger should not be expected till mid
May in the Appalachians.

Ron Gatrelle


 
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