Delaware State Butterfly – Tiger Swallowtail

Tiger Swallowtail
Pterourus glaucus

The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly was designated the official state butterfly of Delaware on June 10,1999. It was one of three butterflies proposed by students of the Richardson Park Learning Center in Wilmington, Delaware. Then, a statewide student vote was taken, and 1,611 out of 3,175 public and private school students voted for the colorful yellow and black-striped, Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly. The State Legislature confirmed the choice in November of that year.

 

 

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CHAPTER 44
FORMERLY SENATE BILL NO. 85

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF TIGER SWALLOWTAIL AS THE OFFICIAL STATE BUTTERFLY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :

WHEREAS, many states across America have designated an official State butterfly to accompany their State flag, State flower, State bird and State bug; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware, despite its great wealth of indigenous butterflies, has never made such a designation; and

WHEREAS, the students of the Richardson Park Learning Center, aware of this fact, have suggested that the Tiger Swallowtail because of its beautiful black and orange colors would be especially appropriate as the subject of such designation; and

WHEREAS, the tiger swallowtail, a large, yellow, black-striped butterfly, is one of the most familiar butterflies in North America, is one of the most common and conspicuous butterflies in the Eastern United States; and

WHEREAS, Tiger Swallowtail is indigenous to Delaware and can be seen in deciduous woods, along streams, rivers, and wooded swamps, and in towns and cities throughout Delaware; and

WHEREAS, as a result of voting of 3,175 public and parochial students from all over the state of Delaware, of the three butterflies that were chosen as finalists for adoption by the students of Richardson park learning center the Tiger Swallowtail was chosen by 1,611 students; and

WHEREAS, the butterfly herein designated as the official State butterfly is emblematic and fitting to accompany Delaware’s other official symbols, and

WHEREAS, the designation of Tiger Swallowtail would be highly appropriate not only in its own right, but as a means whereby Delaware State government might recognize the increasingly vital role played by natural wildlife in Delaware;

NOW THEREFORE;

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 3, Title 29, of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new section designated as Section 315 to read as follows:

Ҥ315. State butterfly.

The tiger swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus) is the official butterfly of the State.”

Approved June 10,1999

 

 

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