I’ll be the first to admit that I’m just as guilty as everyone else in learning all the most striking birds and butterflies first. And few butterflies are as striking as the zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus). Its elegant black-and-white-striped wings, long tails, and erratic flight can be spotted in East Texas gardens, woodlands, and streamsides. Unlike the more common tiger swallowtail or black swallowtail, the zebra swallowtail has a more restricted range and a fascinating relationship with a single host plant, the pawpaw (Asimina sp.).
The zebra swallowtail gets its name from the bold, alternating black and white stripes on its wings, reminiscent of a zebra’s pattern. Its wingspan ranges from 2.5 to 4 inches, with individuals in the spring being smaller than those emerging later in the summer. The elongated tails extending from the hindwings give it an unmistakable and elegant appearance. When in flight, the tails appear to be part of the butterfly’s body, and if a predator strikes, the tails may break off, allowing the butterfly to escape.
Zebra on Dutch clover
In addition to its striking coloration, the zebra swallowtail has a characteristic way of flying—fast, darting, and erratic. This unpredictable movement makes it difficult for birds to catch, giving the butterfly an added advantage in survival. It also makes it difficult to photograph!
Many butterflies have specific host plants on which they lay their eggs, but the zebra swallowtail is particularly selective. Its caterpillars feed exclusively on pawpaws. Asimina triloba is a small native understory tree found in riparian woodlands near creek banks and river bottoms across the eastern U.S. Asimina parviflora is a shrub found in sandy upland soils across the South.
Pawpaw trees contain natural compounds called acetogenins, which make the caterpillars unpalatable to predators. This chemical defense extends to the adult butterfly, helping protect them from birds and other predators. While many butterflies rely on toxicity from host plants to deter predation, only a few have such a singular and defining relationship as the zebra swallowtail and the pawpaw.
Zebra on Verbena
If you want zebra swallowtail reproduction on your property, you need pawpaw trees. In East Texas, the larger-fruited pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is more common than the small-flowered pawpaw (Asimina parviflora), but both serve as vital host plants for the butterfly. While pawpaws are often found growing in the wild, they can be cultivated in semi-shady gardens, provided they have well-drained, acidic soil.
Like all butterflies, the zebra swallowtail undergoes a complete metamorphosis with four distinct stages: eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, and adult.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the zebra swallowtail is that it exhibits seasonal dimorphism, meaning butterflies emerging in the spring look different from those appearing in the summer. Early-season zebra swallowtails are smaller, with more greenish-white wings and shorter tails. Butterflies emerging later in the year are larger, have whiter wings, and sport longer tails on their hindwings. These seasonal differences are thought to be an adaptation to environmental conditions, with the larger summer butterflies having a longer flight range and increased chances of reproduction.
Zebra on Butterfly Weed
Zebra swallowtails prefer habitats where native pawpaw trees grow, including bottomland forests where moist woodlands near creeks and rivers provide the perfect environment for pawpaws and zebra swallowtails. They can also be spotted along open woodlands and edges where zebra swallowtails are often seen flitting along forest edges looking for nectar sources. They also find their way to home gardens and landscapes.
While zebra swallowtails are not as common as other swallowtail species, they can be found throughout East Texas and much of the southeastern United States, following the range of their pawpaw host plants.
Although zebra swallowtail caterpillars require pawpaws to grow and mature, the adult butterflies feed on nectar from a wide variety of flowers. To attract them, consider planting blackberry (Rubus), butterfly bush (Buddleja), buttonbush (Caphalanthus), clover (Trifolium), ironweed (Vernonia), lantana (Lantana), milkweed (Asclepias), phlox (Phlox), salvia (Salvia), verbena (Glandularia), vervain (Verbena), vitex (Vitex), or zinnias (Zinnia). Try to plant as many native flowers as possible to not only support the zebra swallowtails but all the other birds, bees, and butterflies in their ecosystem.
Zebra puddling
Zebra swallowtails have a unique habit called puddling, where they gather on damp soil, mud, or sand to drink minerals and salts. If you’ve ever seen a group of butterflies gathered on a wet patch of dirt, they were likely engaging in this behavior to supplement their diet.
While zebra swallowtails are not currently endangered in East Texas, their populations are closely tied to the availability of pawpaw trees. Habitat destruction, urban development, and changes in land use threaten their numbers. To help conserve this butterfly you should protect and plant pawpaws, reduce pesticide use, and plant diverse flower-filled, native-rich landscapes to provide essential food sources for adult butterflies. As more land is developed, the availability of host plants like pawpaws declines, making it even more crucial to preserve and plant these unique trees. Pawpaws aren’t commonly available in the nursery trade but can sometimes be purchased from specialty nurseries, native plant groups, and arboretum plant sales such as SFA Gardens. Since they form vigorous clonal patches, suckers can also be dug during the dormant season from friends who have them.
The zebra swallowtail is one of the most unique and captivating butterflies in the United States. Its striking beauty, remarkable adaptations, and deep connection to the pawpaw tree make it a fascinating subject for gardeners, naturalists, and butterfly enthusiasts alike. Each spring I look forward to seeing the first zebra swallowtail flitting about and generally note it on my calendar.
For more information on zebra swallowtails look up information online from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences or check out a copy of the book Butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas (1996, UT Press) by Tveten and Tveten. And for a feel good story, listen to the efforts to bring back zebra swallowtails to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on YouTube.
