Species Eurytides marcellus - Zebra Swallowtail

Wingspan 6.4-10.4 cm

Distinctive large black-and-white swallowtail with long tails. Summer flight is darker, form lecontei. (1)

Larva "ringed with narrow green, white, blue, yellow and/or black bands...Body widest at leading ege of A1 where body is ringed by tricolred band: blue-white towards thorax, followed by black...followed by yellow." Each abdominal segment also crossed by a yellow ring. (2) Another larval form occurs which is largely black. Young larvae may also be black. Stripes are less prominent in final instar but A1 stripe is still noticeable.

Southeastern United States.

Partially wooded areas, usually moist.

Two flights, May-August in temperate areas. Flies March to December in subtropical Florida. (1)

Adults take nectar and (males only?) take fluids from damp sand.

Eggs laid singly on hostlant. Larvae feed on Pawpaw species, in most of range this is common Pawpaw, Asimina triloba.

Sometimes listed under genus Graphium. Spectacular!

Brock, p. 24 (3)

Glassberg, p. 44, plate 1 (4)

Scott, pp. 162-163, color plate 4 (pupa), 7, figs. 48, 51, 52 (1)

Allen, p. 42, plate 1 (adult), 31 (larva), 44 (pupa) (5)

Wagner, p. 92 (6)

Butterflies and Skippers of North America

Will Cook