zebra swallowtail | skymeadows

zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

FAMILY: Parnassians and Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
SUBFAMILY: Swallowtails (Papilioninae)

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.

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.

WING SPAN: 2 1/2 - 4 inches (6.4 - 10.4 cm).

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.

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure glob-

ally, 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.

SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:

Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from

year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more

categories and may vary even during a single season.

Key to Checklist

A   Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
C   Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
U   Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
      usually in low numbers.
O   Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
      in low numbers.
R   Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
      year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X   Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.