Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#3715
Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar - Eurytides marcellus

Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar - Eurytides marcellus
Dunn's Creek State Park, Florida, USA
May 7, 2004
Found on underside of pawpaw leaf, the larval host plant.
ID confirmed in Caterpillars of Eastern Forests book, which lists it as Graphium marcellus.

great shot--hard to find these, in my experience
Great shot--I've been looking for those caterpillars for years. I've turned over Pawpaw leaves until my wrist is sore, but never found one. (Zebra Swallowtail adults are pretty common in my area.) Any tricks to finding this one? Did you see damage to the leaves? Did you find it early in the morning or late in the afternoon? I've always suspected the caterpillars might be active at night.

Envious of your caterpillar-finding prowess...
Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

 
Can't take credit, I'm afraid
I was on a native plant hike with a fellow lepidoptera-lover and she was turning over pawpaw leaves and found it. It was mid-morning, there was no visible leaf damage, and the pawpaw seedling was quite small - less than 2' tall - I have read that these guys prefer the young plants.
Hannah N-M

Changed names
I was curious which genus was the current favorite and this page says it was changed from Graphium to Eurytides.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.