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 361 - 384 of 2913 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 09, 2019
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Holt County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 12, 2019
Observation date: Aug 09, 2019
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: acb0507
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: Jcovas
Region: Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Lynea
Region: Putnam County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Aug 05, 2019
Submitted by: Sarah Carefoot
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 02, 2019
Observation date: May 26, 2018
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 27, 2018
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Moniteau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2018
Submitted by: sindiehp
Region: Platte County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Apr 09, 2019
Submitted by: turtlefoot
Region: Douglas County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: May 31, 2019
Submitted by: SteveChemist
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: KatDotB
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Union County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2019
Observation date: Jul 22, 2019
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 28, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: sstippick
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 28, 2019
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 18, 2019
Submitted by: KLab
Region: Coffey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: MarlaK
Region: Marshall County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: PhilandAmy
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: woody2837
Region: Washington County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 20, 2019
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: K. S. Veitch
Region: Laurel County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: pamw
Region: Garland County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Marsh64sq
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
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