Zebra swallowtails are also called pawpaw butterflies because pawpaws are the host plants for the larval stage.

Eggs of this butterfly are pale green and laid singly by the female on tender young pawpaw leaves and stems.

 

 

 

 

Young larvae are dark colored with bands of black, yellow, and white. At right is a caterpillar 12 days after hatching from its egg.

 

 

 

 

 

Below: As the caterpillar ages, the body becomes lighter in color with beige, white, yellow, and black bands. This caterpillar hatched from its egg 26 days ago.

The osmeterium is a fleshy organ found near the head of zebra swallowtail caterpillars. Normallly hidden from view, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar feels threatened. When disturbed, the osmeterium releases strong smelling, sticky chemicals, which the caterpillar spears onto its predators.

As shown below, twenty-eight days after hatching, some of the caterpillar's color bands thicken. Note the thick beige bands.

Below: at 29 days, the caterpillar is becoming more green in color.

 

On the 30th day it begins pupating. Photographs below show a caterpillar that has climbed a glass terrarium and spun silk to attach itself to the glass.

 

 

 

 

The pupa of a zebra swallowtail may be green or brown (as show at left on day 31) with light lines that make it look leaf-like. It is supported by a silk girdle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After it emerges from its chrysalis, the adult zebra swallowtail is attracted to the nectar of a variety of flowers.

Zebra swallowtail butterflies display seasonal dimorphism. Early spring adults are lighter in color, smaller, and have tails about half as long as the summer adults.

To date, we have found no zebra swallowtail butterflies in any stage in the Conservancy gardens; however, pawpaws are growing not far from the gardens, and we hope to have some sightings in the future. The photographs on this page were taken in Columbus, Ohio.

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Links:

Index to Butterfly and Moth Visitors to Gardens

Index To Photographs of Plants in the Gardens

Plant Lists by Garden

Conservancy of SW Florida Butterfly Garden Home Page

Conservancy of SW Florida Home Page.

Please report errors to Susan Snyder at ssnyder2@columbus.rr.com