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 73 - 96 of 2854 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: mlpbutterflies
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2012
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: MartyWalker
Region: Nottoway County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: DowdellV
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: Pennymartone13
Region: Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Mjsheeley
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: Emmiles
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2021
Submitted by: lauraLOVESbirds
Region: Chesapeake, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: Lancaster County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 15, 2022
Submitted by: Juliet C.
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 17, 2022
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 19, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Macon County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: May 15, 2021
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 13, 2022
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 25, 2022
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