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
(Cramer, 1777)
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 2868 verified sightings
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Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: Stephen Craig
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
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Observation date: May 09, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
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Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: ktnbcn
Region: Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2023
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Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: Krissy N.
Region: Carroll County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 09, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 20, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 27, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 21, 2023
Submitted by: bttfly9@yahoo.com
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 23, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Union County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 21, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 19, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 10, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 11, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 27, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 27, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 18, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 18, 2016
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Gibson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 09, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 08, 2023
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 08, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 04, 2023
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
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Observation date: May 28, 2022
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 18, 2022
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Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
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Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
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Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: jpg15109
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
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Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
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Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 29, 2022
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Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: Nancyjp
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
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Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
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