Family Papilionidae includes about 560 species worldwide; 33 of these live in North America [1]. Papilionidae is further subdivided into two subfamilies, Papilioninae and Parnassiinae. Most swallowtails are large, brightly colored or black butterflies with one or more tails on the hindwings, with a few exceptions having no tails at all, e.g. genus Parides [1].

Adult swallowtails frequent woodland edges and glades, weedy fields and gardens, just about anywhere there can be found open spaces and flowers. The eastern tiger swallowtail is particularly fond of sunflowers in all their wild varieties. Larval host plants include the family Rutaceae.