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 169 - 192 of 2907 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Victoire Batiste
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 13, 2019
Submitted by: im_eric
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: im_eric
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2019
Submitted by: GardenAum
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: Jenn2869
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: WndrWmn
Region: Cecil County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: KLC_20740
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 02, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: RhinocerosBeetle
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 02, 2021
Observation date: Mar 28, 2021
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Shortcake
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Kent County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: todonnell
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: todonnell
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Camden County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: black
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: DTaylor1974
Region: Williamson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 30, 2021
Submitted by: john safford
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: Taylor0861
Region: Johnson County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
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