TIGER TIME

[Michael Gochfeld]

I had two fresh Tiger Swallowtails at Lake Puskus (20 mi east of Oxford MS) on
March 13th. Is that unusual.  Oxford is only one horticultural zone "south" of
NJ, but I wouldn't expect any Tigers here for another month.

Mike Gochfeld

Ron Gatrelle wrote:

> 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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