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 289 - 312 of 2912 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Rodzpam
Region: Warren County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: Bleem
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2008
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: djarrow
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: JoyceSw
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: Jess D
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 26, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2019
Submitted by: CrescentWing34
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 18, 2020
Observation date: May 11, 2019
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2014
Submitted by: s.stearos
Region: Ross County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: nature405
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 18, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
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