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Zebra Swallowtail
Protographium marcellus
39.6105, -78.0054
Field Notes
Description:
The Zebra Swallowtail has a wingspan of 2.5 to 4.1 in. The triangular wings are white to greenish-white with black longitudinal stripes. A pair of swordlike tails extend from the hind wings.The inner margin of the hind wing has two blue spots on the corner and a red spot near the body.[2] A red stripe runs along the middle of the ventral hind wing. It has a spring form and a summer form. Spring forms are smaller, more white, and have short, black tails with white tips. Summer forms are larger, have broader black stripes, and longer, black tails with white edges
Habitat:
The Zebra Swallowtail is found from southern Michigan and southern Ontario southeast along the Atlantic coast to Florida and the Gulf States west to the Great Plains. This butterfly rarely strays far from its host plant, pawpaw, and is found in habitats where the trees grow. Such habitats include deciduous woodlands, southern pine woodlands, prairies, and savannas. The Zebra Swallowtail does poorly in developed areas, and prefers intact habitats.
Notes:
Males participate in a behavior known as puddling, in which individuals congregate on sand, gravel, or moist soil to obtain salts and amino acids.[
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