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 25 - 48 of 2868 verified sightings
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 06, 2024
Submitted by: OneDeadPixel
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: Mar 27, 2024
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Mississippi County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 01, 2024
Submitted by: Dave Rintoul
Region: Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 31, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2024
Observation date: Mar 24, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pulaski County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 29, 2024
Observation date: Feb 23, 2024
Submitted by: bflyguys
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 24, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: keleptose
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Catoosa County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Durham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: Donna38059
Region: Dyer County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: lisarich
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: snuuzicat
Region: Putnam County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Jewell County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Kent County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: DaleM
Region: Jefferson County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Searcy County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: TuTuponyrider
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
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