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 241 - 264 of 2907 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2015
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2015
Submitted by: LadyAshleyR
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Montpelier Monarchs
Region: Orange County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: jason.sosebee
Region: Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Apr 05, 2020
Submitted by: Travis G
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Apr 12, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: May 04, 2020
Submitted by: ChrissyL
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Apr 16, 2020
Submitted by: tca12345
Region: King George County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Apr 22, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Mar 22, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Jun 01, 2020
Submitted by: ngause1
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2020
Submitted by: Liz Pullen
Region: Fauquier County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2016
Submitted by: tfgummo
Region: Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2014
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2015
Submitted by: joanerobo
Region: Granville County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2015
Submitted by: Lissajane
Region: Davidson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2016
Submitted by: PeePickett
Region: Union County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2016
Submitted by: pawpawman
Region: Alleghany County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: treardon48
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: robint61
Region: Rowan County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: ProvidenceFarm
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: Hbatts
Region: Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: MatPso
Region: Gaston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
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