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 265 - 288 of 2907 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: Joy Wolfe
Region: Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: May 08, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gibson
Region: Richardson County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: bj27983
Region: Davie County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: Lutherjj
Region: Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: yupinchao
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 13, 2020
Submitted by: maruiakina
Region: Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Sep 26, 2020
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Decatur County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Nov 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: Shawnann74
Region: Oldham County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Shercat
Region: Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Oct 17, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020
Observation date: Oct 05, 2020
Submitted by: Chinmom
Region: Sumter County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 09, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Sep 05, 2020
Submitted by: Elmstreet239
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 19, 2020
Observation date: Sep 10, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Apr 01, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: Thebluerose22
Region: Chilton County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2016
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
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
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