Zebra Swallowtail
Neographium marcellus (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Tribe: Leptocircini
Identification: Upper surface of wings with black stripes on pale whitish-green background; hindwings have very long tails. Early-spring form is smaller and lighter colored.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 4 inches (6.4 - 10.4 cm).
Life History: Adult males fly in the understory near host plants to find females. Females lay single green eggs on lower leaves of host plant. Caterpillars live and feed on the underside of these leaves, then pupate and hibernate there.
Flight: Two flights, April-August, in the northern part of its range; many flights, March-December, in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Shrubs of the genus Asimina (pawpaw) in the Annonaceae family. Young plants are preferred.
Adult Food: Moisture from sand and nectar from flowers including blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud, viper\'s bugloss, verbena, dogbane, and common milkweed.
Habitat: Breeds in moist low woodlands near swamps and rivers. Adults fly to nectar plants in open fields and brushy areas.
Range: Rare in northern part of range.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Maintain host trees in various stages of succession.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Eurytides marcellus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2868 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: godibec
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: biomassive
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: ebea
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2024
Submitted by: Laughingmantis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: Laughingmantis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2024
Submitted by: forestbrant@com...
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 17, 2024
Observation date: May 04, 2024
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Washington County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: Jefferson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 28, 2024
Submitted by: speele
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 28, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 25, 2024
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Chrysanthemum
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Halifax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Margie Labadie
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
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