Zebra Swallowtail
Eurytides marcellus (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2434 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: ctrego
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Dec 18, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2016
Submitted by: gpro111
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 27, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Murray County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 27, 2017
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: Randy53
Region: Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 11, 2017
Observation date: Aug 05, 2017
Submitted by: Joanie Howe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Jul 29, 2017
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Marion County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 01, 2017
Observation date: Aug 21, 2017
Submitted by: Christine Mooney
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 13, 2017
Submitted by: Nancyjp
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2017
Observation date: Aug 09, 2017
Submitted by: atnvol
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 09, 2017
Observation date: Jul 31, 2017
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 31, 2017
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Elmore County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 23, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: Gupton butterfly
Region: Marshall County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 06, 2017
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 06, 2017
Observation date: Jul 04, 2017
Submitted by: greg2059
Region: Jackson County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2017
Observation date: Jun 29, 2017
Submitted by: smsmith14
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 25, 2017
Submitted by: MRKRAUS
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 03, 2017
Observation date: Jun 16, 2017
Submitted by: Julie lowden
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 29, 2017
Observation date: Jun 25, 2017
Submitted by: AppleseedS
Region: Jefferson County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 25, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: kplaas
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 13, 2017
Observation date: Apr 14, 2017
Submitted by: ShakeragSusan
Region: Trigg County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: May 29, 2017
Observation date: May 24, 2017
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: May 27, 2017
Observation date: Mar 05, 2017
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Meriwether County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: mikelchap
Verified date: May 13, 2017
Observation date: Mar 05, 2017
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Meriwether County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: mikelchap
Verified date: May 13, 2017
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