Eurytides marcellus
"Zebra Swallowtail"
Family: Papilionidae

Description: The Zebra Swallowtail is a very unique species with black and white banding patterns on all four wings. It is not only characterized by its black and white coloration, resembling the stripes of a zebra, but by it's long tails also. The upper surface of the wings has a pale green to white base color with black stripes. There is a bright red median stripe on the underside of the hind wing. There are two flights per year; the spring individuals are generally smaller than those that are found in the summer flight. It usually is between 3.75-4.5 inches in width, and 5.0-6.5 inches in height depending on which flight it is.

Distribution: It is widely distributed from southern New England west to southern Minnesota and south to eastern Texas and Florida.

Habitat: Found along woodland watercourses, swamps, and marshes. During the late spring and summer they may be found in open brushy areas and abandoned fields.

Food Source: The caterpillar prefers young tender Pawpaw plants in the Annonaceae family. While the adults prefer to get moisture from sand and nectar from flowers. The flowers range from blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud, viper's bugloss, verbena, dogbane, and common milkweed.

Life Cycle: There are two flights in the North and many flights in Florida from March to December. The host plant is Pawpaw. Females select plants with young leaves for oviposition. The eggs are laid singly on young leaves, and larva feed on the foliage. This requirement for young new leaves may limit reproduction in summer and fall. Pupation usually occurs on the other side of leaves of the host plant, while some pupae of each flight overwinter.

Erich Saine & Koty Briggs ENT 301; Fall 2001