The Skippers The Swallowtails The Whites and Sulphurs The Blues and Coppers The Gossamer-wings
Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio canadensis
[Canadian Tiger Swallowtail image]
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Apple River, NS - 2008-06-14
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Common throughout, sometimes abundant.

Flight Period
Late May to early July. Abundance peaks in mid-June (Ferguson).

Habitat
Edges of deciduous and mixed evergreen-deciduous forest, gardens.

Larval Foodplants
A variety of trees and shrubs including willow, cherry, poplar and ash.

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
None.

Notes
This is one of our largest and most easily-recognized butterflies. Because of its fondness for edge habitat, it can often be found patrolling up and down roadways. This species was split from the very similar Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus (which does not occur in Nova Scotia) in 1991.

Further Reading


Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Cape Breton Highlands NP, NS, 1995-06-24
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Cape Breton Highlands NP, NS - 1995-06-24
1995-06-24
Photo © Peter Payzant
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - nr. Malagash Pt., NS, 2011-07-07
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - nr. Malagash Pt., NS - 2011-07-07
2011-07-07
Photo © Phil Schappert
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Lower Sackville, NS, 2013-06-16
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Lower Sackville, NS - 2013-06-16
2013-06-16
Photo © Peter Payzant
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Elbow Lake, 2013-06-20
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Elbow Lake - 2013-06-20
2013-06-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Black River Lake, Kings Co., 2011-06-21
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Black River Lake, Kings Co. - 2011-06-21
2011-06-21
Photo © Mark Elderkin
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Hilden, NS, 2017-06
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Hilden, NS - 2017-06
2017-06
Photo © Kimberly Shaw
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Brookfield, 2020-06-17
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Brookfield - 2020-06-17
2020-06-17
Photo © Doris Betts
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-06-19
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-06-19
2022-06-19
Photo © William D. Crawford
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-05-29
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-05-29
2022-05-29
Photo © William D. Crawford
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro, 2022-06-27
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Victoria Park, Truro - 2022-06-27
2022-06-27
Photo © Patricia Sowinski
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Meisner Point, NS, 2022-08-27
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Meisner Point, NS - 2022-08-27
2022-08-27
Photo © Shelley Goulding
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Meisner Point, NS, 2022-08-27
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Meisner Point, NS - 2022-08-27
2022-08-27
Photo © Shelley Goulding