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 1 - 24 of 2835 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: Stephen Craig
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: May 09, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Wolfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: ktnbcn
Region: Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: Krissy N.
Region: Carroll County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 20, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 27, 2023
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
Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Union County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 21, 2023
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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