tiger swallowtail
noun
: a large widely distributed swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) of eastern North America that in the male is largely yellow with black margins and black stripes on the wings and in the female is usually similarly marked in the north but is very often all or mostly black in the south
also
: any of several closely related black and yellow swallowtails (such as P. rutulus of western North America)
Examples of tiger swallowtail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This week, Jeff and Jonathan share progress reports on converting lawns into meadows - highlighting sightings of violas, tiger swallowtail butterflies, false spirea and more.
—
Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2023
In July, the butterflies finally arrived: tiger swallowtail, monarch, black swallowtail, and cloudless sulphur.
—Lauren Matison, Outside Online, 12 Oct. 2022
Byron Morgan of Crete snapped the winning picture of an eastern tiger swallowtail on a flower and a bee in air at Hickory Creek Preserve.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022
Following MaKenna’s death, an Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly attempted to sneak into her father’s car for about 10 minutes, her father shared with Ochoa, who selected this type of butterfly as a symbolism that MaKenna is still here.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies fly on top of her portrait.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022
Its chief pollinator is the eastern tiger swallowtail, one of the largest butterflies of the Northeast.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 May 2022
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies flocked there to feast on echinacea flowers while nectar-hungry hummingbirds found relief in red cardinal flowers.
—Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2022
The western tiger swallowtail utilizes a large variety of host plants, mostly trees, including cottonwood, aspens, poplars, alders, ashes, and willows.
—oregonlive, 2 Oct. 2021
Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2023
In July, the butterflies finally arrived: tiger swallowtail, monarch, black swallowtail, and cloudless sulphur.
—Lauren Matison, Outside Online, 12 Oct. 2022
Byron Morgan of Crete snapped the winning picture of an eastern tiger swallowtail on a flower and a bee in air at Hickory Creek Preserve.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022
Following MaKenna’s death, an Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly attempted to sneak into her father’s car for about 10 minutes, her father shared with Ochoa, who selected this type of butterfly as a symbolism that MaKenna is still here.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies fly on top of her portrait.
—Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022
Its chief pollinator is the eastern tiger swallowtail, one of the largest butterflies of the Northeast.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 May 2022
Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies flocked there to feast on echinacea flowers while nectar-hungry hummingbirds found relief in red cardinal flowers.
—Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2022
The western tiger swallowtail utilizes a large variety of host plants, mostly trees, including cottonwood, aspens, poplars, alders, ashes, and willows.
—oregonlive, 2 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tiger swallowtail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1889, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of tiger swallowtail was
in 1889
Dictionary Entries Near tiger swallowtail
Cite this Entry
“Tiger swallowtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiger%20swallowtail. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
tiger swallowtail
noun
: a large swallowtail of eastern North America that is mostly yellow with black borders and black stripes on the wings
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