Zebra swallowtail
This butterfly is the only white, black-striped swallowtail in North America, and its caterpillars can develop only on pawpaw trees and their close relatives.
| Where | Moist forests near pawpaw trees |
|---|---|
| Size | 50 to 105 mm wingspan |
| When | March to September |
The zebra swallowtail has triangular, white to greenish white wings crossed by black longitudinal stripes, with long swordlike tails, blue spots at the corner of the hindwing, and a red spot near the body.
Caterpillars feed only on pawpaw leaves, and summer-generation adults grow noticeably longer tails and wider black stripes than the spring generation that flies earlier in the year.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
White, Black, Blue
Active
Day
To people
Feeds on flower nectar and damp soil minerals; poses no risk to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Black with two rows of yellow spots and short tails, lacking the zebra swallowtail's white ground color, long black stripes, and long swordlike tails.
Questions
Is the Zebra swallowtail dangerous to people?
Feeds on flower nectar and damp soil minerals; poses no risk to people.
When can you see the Zebra swallowtail?
The Zebra swallowtail can be seen from March to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Davidson College, CC0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Swallowtails›Eurytides
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.