Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

Zebra swallowtail butterfly

Common cultural depiction often use swallowtail butterflies to represent the grace and free nature of the ineffable human soul.

What is the difference between the male and female of the zebra swallowtail butterfly?

The identification chart below compares the colors and features of these common dark-colored Swallowtail butterflies as seen in ventral views. Wings are black with light colored spots, or scales, on the trailing edges. On the male, the spots are a pale green, and on the female the spots are iridescent blue.

What is the scientific name for a zebra swallowtail butterfly?

Eurytides marcellus Zebra swallowtail / Scientific name

How big is a zebra swallowtail?

Zebra swallowtails have long, triangular wings with black, zebra-like stripes on a whitish background. Its wingspan grows to approximately 2 to 4 inches.

Is the zebra swallowtail rare?

Zebra Swallowtail. Probably the most spectacular of the swallowtail butterflies, the zebra swallowtail flies in the eastern half of the country. However, it is one of the rarest swallowtail butterflies. It's usually only found in great numbers where its host plant, pawpaw (Asimina sp.)

What is the rarest swallowtail butterfly?

Today, Schaus' Swallowtail is restricted to only a few remaining sites in the northern Florida Keys, making it one of the rarest butterflies in the U.S. and our only federally listed swallowtail.

Are swallowtail butterflies rare?

For centuries, the California pipevine swallowtail — or, Battus philenor hirsuta — called San Francisco home. As development increased in the early 20th century, the butterfly slowly began to disappear. Today it is a rare sight.

Is a zebra swallowtail butterfly poisonous?

Butterfly: The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is not a poisonous butterfly, and does not mimic any poisonous species.

What plants attract zebra swallowtails?

Pawpaws are the only host plant for the zebra swallowtail caterpillar.

Can you touch a swallowtail butterfly?

Most caterpillars are perfectly safe to handle. Painted lady and swallowtail caterpillars are common examples. Even the monarch butterfly caterpillar, though toxic if eaten, does nothing more than tickle you when held.

How long does a zebra swallowtail live?

It is believed that once the Zebra Swallowtail become a butterfly, some of the pawpaw leaf toxin remains in the butterfly body to help repel birds, spiders and insects. As an adult butterfly it maybe live up to 6 months.

What is special about swallowtail butterfly?

Swallowtail butterflies practice Batesian mimicry, a behavior in which the butterflies' appearance closely resemble that of distasteful species that prevents predation. Swallowtails differ from many animals that practice mimicry.

What is the rarest butterfly in America?

The island marble butterfly is one of the rarest butterflies in North America.

What month do swallowtail butterflies lay eggs?

The first group of butterflies emerges between late April and early June after having overwintered in the chrysalis. They mate and then the females lay small white eggs on the underside and tops of plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 3-5 days.

Are swallowtail butterflies good?

Swallowtail butterfly benefits include their work as efficient pollinators. They flit to flowers and dig in for nectar, which energizes them for flight.

Do swallowtail butterflies bite?

They can't hurt you at all they don't even have teeth. They don't even have mouths.

Is swallowtail butterfly endangered?

Not extinct Swallowtail butterfly / Extinction status

What are swallowtail butterflies attracted to?

Black swallowtails, like other butterflies, prefer flat-topped flowers or plants with clusters of small flowers. Favorites include phlox, gaillardia, zinnias, butterflyweed, and milkweed.

What eats a swallowtail butterfly?

Predators (animals that eat them) of the black swallowtail can include centipedes, spiders, mantids, beetles, ants, wasps, toads, frogs, lizards, birds, rodents, and bats.

How long do swallowtail butterflies last?

Characteristics of the Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Their life span is about two weeks. The produce 2-3 broods a year in the deep South U.S. Its breeding range encompasses most of the United States and Canada.