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Butterfly Garden

Is this a Zebra Swallowtail?

16 years ago

This is one hard fella to get a photo of. If he hadn't flown right into my camera's eye, I would never had photographed him. I wish the picture was more clear but these are very hyper butterflies. I have only seen a handful in my life..Bob {{gwi:501215}}

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Comments (9)

MissSherry
16 years ago
Yes, Bob, that's a zebra swallowtail!
I've only seen them a few times here, myself - I get so excited when I see one, I practically hyperventilate!
The only states you ever hear of them occurring fairly commonly are along the Atlantic seaboard, but even there they certainly aren't teeming!
Congratulations! I hope I see one this year (like I did twice last year) and if I got ZST eggs/cats on my pawpaws, I'd faint dead away! :)
MissSherry
susanlynne48
16 years ago
YES, YES, and YES!!!!! You are SOOOOO lucky! You must live in Eastern Oklahoma somewhere, right? I wish you lived in Central Oklahoma, and that the ZSTs had extended their range - blast it!

These are one of the most beautiful swallowtail species IMHO! Do you have pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba)? If you do, that is their host plant and you might find some caterpillars munching on the foliage.

WOW! Very, very pretty! I'm jealous!

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Zebra Swallowtail Life Cycle
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I've linked below the range map for them. At my first house, I used to get ZSTs flying around every year even though I had zero pawpaw and I'm guessing there was zero anywhere near me. Now around 5-6 miles north of that house, I have an acre, 3 pawpaws, pawpaw in the forest behind me, and pawpaw across the street. With all that pawpaw, I've seen one ZST and that was in 2005. In places where I've seen ZSTs in large numbers, large open spaces/meadows were in the area. My first house literally had I-71 in the backyard. That observation is weird to me since pawpaw is usually an understory tree so the ZSTs have to fly into woods to find their hostplant. Typing that reminded me that I see ZSTs mate out and about. I'm used to male butterflies patrolling for mates around hostplants. ZSTs are different. KC Here is a link that might be useful: Zebra swallowtails
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Thank you for responding Sherry. I checked on the cat this morning (4th day in captivity) and surprisingly, it's still alive! It's not deflated but I don't think it has eaten. I have it in the new habitat which allows more air circulation (we are already in the mid to upper 80s here in Florida). When I cleaned out the temporary habitat of plastic tub with mesh net over the top, I noticed wood dust in one corner of the tub. I had placed a stick in the tub so the cat would have an easier place to hang when pupating. On close examination of the stick there was tunneling under the bark on one end. I wonder if some other bug emerged out of the stick and harassed the cat causing it to mark all over trying to defend itself. I did not find any bug in the habitat or on my screened porch but it's small and the screened area is large. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed now. Do you know of anyone who has had great success raising Zebra Swallowtails? I'd like to get any pointers, suggestions and help that I can. I've successfully raised several hundred monarchs and gulf fritillary butterflies over the past 2 years and was hoping to help other varieties this year. I've planted host plants for Zebra Swallowtail, Polydamus Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, White Peacock, Giant Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail, as I've seen each of these in my yard in previous years. But these would all be new for me to raise. I have gotten 4 Zebra Longwing cats to pupate as of this week, my first foray into helping other butterfly variaties. Any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated. Anna
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susanlynne48
16 years ago
I was on the BF forum and not the Oklahoma Gardening forum. While we get these beauties in Oklahoma, they are found in the Eastern part of our state. I'm in central Oklahoma (OKC). I now notice you're in Ohio!

Sorry for the confusion!

Susan
bernergrrl
16 years ago
Beautiful! Is that vervain it's nectaring from?
susanlynne48
16 years ago
It looks like Verbena bonariensis to me, BG! Do you not have any? I will have seeds if you want some. Not quite ready yet, but on its way.

Susan
aggscott
16 years ago
Wow is that a pretty butterfly. I don't know what I would do if I ever saw one out of a Butterfly House!

Bob you live in Ohio and had one in your yard? That is amazing-I didn't think they came up that far.

Aggie
gwynne2006
16 years ago
My butterfly book says they are supposed to be in Pennsylvania as well. I have never seen one. Definately something I would remember. Beautiful!
pollinatorbob
Original Author
16 years ago
I think the reason we don't see many of them is that they are so flighty, always on the move. I was actually taking a photo of a Tiger Swallowtail when this guy whizzed by. (see attached)a case of being in the right place at the right time. As a result I find that the Zebra Swallowtails live off of Paw Paw trees. I ordered 4 to plant behind the barn in hopes that some day I will see a batch of caterpillars on them...Bob {{gwi:501216}}
MissSherry
16 years ago
That's wonderful that you planted some pawpaw trees, Bob! If you get caterpillars, please let us know - we'll all want to see pictures of the cats in each instar!
And your tiger swallowtail is a beauty!
MissSherry

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