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 145 - 168 of 2907 verified sightings
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 13, 2022
Submitted by: MSEmbeck
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 25, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 24, 2022
Observation date: Mar 29, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Dade County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Newton County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Alexander County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 02, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Mar 03, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 1957
Submitted by: John429
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: trinectes
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: Sep 13, 2015
Submitted by: mollieking
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2013
Submitted by: botanybill
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2017
Submitted by: Barb Gregory
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 24, 2018
Submitted by: rainylys
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: pachips
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 26, 2019
Submitted by: birdnation123
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: emitter
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
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