The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail became the Alabama state mascot and butterfly in 1989 at the request of the Selma City Council. Selma is known as the Butterfly Capital of Alabama and the eastern swallowtail is its mascot.

The monarch butterfly became the official state insect a few days later.

For more information see:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/species/Tigersw.shtml http://www.statehousegirls.net/al/symbols/butterfly

Sources:

Act 89-676, Acts of Alabama, May 11, 1989

Alabama Conservation Magazine, Winter, 1992

Return to Kids' Emblems page

Updated: January 22, 2010

http://www.archives.alabama.gov/kids_emblems/st_masct.html