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 145 - 168 of 2868 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Camden County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: DTaylor1974
Region: Williamson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: john safford
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: Taylor0861
Region: Johnson County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: systanfield
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: jmfbecker
Region: Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: ydlrun
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: oliebing
Region: Hardin County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: smsmith14
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: mdcall
Region: Ray County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: May 29, 2021
Submitted by: Juliet C.
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 30, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 20, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2021
Submitted by: JoyceSw
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 10, 2021
Observation date: Apr 13, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Howard County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Apr 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 22, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 23, 2021
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