Zebra Swallowtail
FamilyPapilionidae
Scientific NameEurytides marcellus
RangeEastern United States
HabitatMoist woodlands, riversides
About the Zebra Swallowtail
A striking swallowtail with black and white zebra stripes and very long, sword-like tails. Its caterpillars feed only on pawpaw trees, so the butterfly is rarely found far from them. Spring adults are smaller and paler than those that emerge in summer. Males gather on damp ground to drink minerals in a behavior called puddling. It is the state butterfly of Tennessee.
Related Species
Swallowtail (Old World)
One of the most recognized butterflies with distinctive tail-like extensions on ...
Ulysses Butterfly
The iconic butterfly of tropical Queensland, Australia. Their electric blue uppe...
Birdwing (Queen Alexandra)
The largest butterfly in the world, with females reaching 31 cm wingspan. Discov...
Cairns Birdwing
The largest butterfly in Australia with a 15 cm wingspan. Males are brilliant gr...