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 73 - 96 of 2869 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Chell_Ari
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 02, 2022
Submitted by: Rcpanosian
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: Chell_Ari
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 07, 2022
Observation date: Jul 27, 2022
Submitted by: anita stratton
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: Diortman
Region: Johnson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: Flutterbysarefree
Region: Shelby County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: OspreyJ
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: OspreyJ
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: OspreyJ
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: EMM
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: mdgardengirl
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2022
Submitted by: RhondaBalloo
Region: Henry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: mlpbutterflies
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2012
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: MartyWalker
Region: Nottoway County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: DowdellV
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: Pennymartone13
Region: Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: Mjsheeley
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
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