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 313 - 336 of 2912 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Nelson
Region: Baxter County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2020
Observation date: Apr 14, 2020
Submitted by: mystromenendez
Region: Carroll County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Lewis County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 22, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 08, 2020
Submitted by: Ambersilk61
Region: Pope County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: Beth Katz
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: MRamsdell1967
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 30, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 01, 2020
Observation date: Apr 16, 2020
Submitted by: Diane Solo
Region: Franklin County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 01, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: iashell
Region: Marion County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 29, 2020
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 25, 2020
Observation date: Mar 16, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 24, 2020
Observation date: Apr 22, 2020
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 23, 2020
Observation date: Apr 15, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 22, 2020
Observation date: Mar 24, 2020
Submitted by: naturephotographer
Region: Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 19, 2020
Submitted by: MPower
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 18, 2020
Observation date: Apr 08, 2020
Submitted by: Kbossong
Region: Gallia County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 17, 2020
Observation date: Apr 14, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 15, 2020
Observation date: Apr 05, 2020
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 09, 2020
Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 09, 2020
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