ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL PATCH

These fluids may become mixed with the osmeterial fluids, and Eisner et al. At the same time the osmeterium is extruded, larvae regurgitate gut fluids. When disturbed, larvae extrude the osmeterium and smear the offender with the chemicals. The larval osmeterium (Figure 9) is coated with the strongly smelling chemicals isobutyric and 2-methyl butyric acids (Eisner et al. Larvae are parasitized by tachinid flies (Sime 2005) and the ichneumonid wasps Itopletis conquisitor Say and Trogus pennator (Fabricius) (Krombein et al. Zebra swallowtail eggs are occasionally parasitized by Trichogramma (Trichogrammatidae) wasps (Sime 2005). Diapausing pupae are usually brown (Scott 1986) and are camouflaged on the dead leaves during the winter. However, some pupae of each flight overwinter (Scott 1986).

Short photoperiod produces diapausing pupae that hibernate (Hazel and West 1983). The brown pupa in Figure 11 resulted from a larva that was placed in a container containing only dead leaves and brown twigs immediately after it voided the gut and began to wander. Pupae formed on living leaves are usually green, while those formed on dead (brown) leaves are usually brown (West and Hazel 1985 West and Hazel 1996). Larvae usually pupate on the undersides of either living or dead leaves of the host plant. Hall, UF/IFASįull-grown larvae evacuate the gut and begin to wander in search of a pupation site around midday (West and Hazel 1985). Common pawpaw, Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal (Annonaceae), a larval host for the zebra swallowtail, Protographium marcellus (Cramer).

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL PATCH

Males have a patch of elongated sex-pheromone-producing scent scales (androconia) in the anal folds (Figure 4) of the hind wings (Scott 1986, Simonsen et al. Unlike most of our other native swallowtails, zebra swallowtails are not involved in a mimicry complex. For lists of the names that have been used for the seasonal and transitional forms, see Tyler et al. Mather (1970) detailed descriptions of the color forms. Early spring specimens are lighter in color, smaller, and have shorter tails (Scott 1986). Zebra swallowtails exhibit seasonal polymorphism. The lower surface of the wings is similar, except there is a red stripe running through the middle of the hind wing. The upper surface of the wings is white with black stripes. The wingspread of adults is 2.5 to 4 inches (64 to 104 mm) (Opler and Malikul 1992). General distribution map for the zebra swallowtail, Protographium marcellus (Cramer). The zebra swallowtail is widely distributed from southern New England west to eastern Kansas and south to Texas and Florida (Figure 3).įigure 3. 2018), but Eurytides is still used by some field guides and butterfly books (e.g., Evans 2008 Glassberg 2017). The name Protographium is now being used in recent taxonomic journal papers (e.g., Allio et al.

It has also been placed in the following genera:įor many years the zebra swallowtail was known by the genus name Eurytides, until Möhn (2002) moved it from Eurytides to the genus Neographium and most recently, Lamas (2004) moved it to the genus Protographium.

The zebra swallowtail was originally grouped with the other butterflies in the genus Papilio and named Papilio ajax by Linnaeus (1758). Zebra swallowtail, Protographium marcellus (Cramer), with wings closed. Luckily I had my camera and was taking a video so I was able to capture the experience and look back on it.Figure 2. This year I saw one and it went to an orange Lantana plant in a pot. When it landed on Blue Fortune Agastache plant I took the picture and then it was gone. I remember chasing one around to get a picture a few years ago. I might see one Zebra Swallowtail a year in my yard if I'm lucky. I should have looked under the picture of the butterfly in the book to read the name of the butterfly in the picture, which is under the black line and above the printed name of the butterfly in the book. Zone 6bWard, my confusion about the Zebra Swallowtail and Dark-Kite Swallowtail butterflies in the reference book was because I looked at the heading on top of the Zebra Swallowtail picture in the book which said Swallowtail - Kite Swallowtails. They have similarities and both types are beautiful.

I checked a butterfly reference book which shows it appears (I think) to be a Kite Swallowtail rather than a Zebra Swallowtail. This image was taken several years ago in my yard of a Kite Swallowtail butterfly.