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 385 - 408 of 2913 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Nelson
Region: Marion County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: rcanerday
Region: Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jun 17, 2019
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Logan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 05, 2018
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Howard County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: lefevers
Region: Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Shawnann74
Region: Oldham County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 20, 2019
Submitted by: LindsayR-WCS-D4
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2019
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 21, 2019
Observation date: Jun 19, 2019
Submitted by: Shawnann74
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 20, 2019
Observation date: Jun 17, 2019
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 20, 2019
Observation date: Jun 15, 2019
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 17, 2019
Observation date: Jun 10, 2019
Submitted by: David Lowry
Region: Woodford County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 17, 2019
Observation date: Apr 22, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Barren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 17, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2019
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 15, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 12, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: malcolmgold
Region: Franklin County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 03, 2019
Observation date: Mar 21, 2012
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Jones County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 03, 2019
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 30, 2019
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