Hobbies And Interests
Geography
Zebra swallowtails can be found in the eastern United States. Their range spans New England to southern Minnesota, down to the eastern part of Texas.
Diet
Adult zebra swallowtails feed on nectar from a variety of plants, most often blackberry, redbud, lilac, verbena and milkweed. Zebra swallowtails use their long, rolled tongues ("probosces") to extract nectar from tube-like flowers.
Reproduction
Eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves of pawpaw trees, from which the newly hatched caterpillars feed. The caterpillar will pupate on the same leaf before emerging as an adult zebra swallowtail. The entire process, from egg to adult, takes about one month.
Size
Adult zebra swallowtails can reach wingspans of around 2 1/2 to 4 inches.
Fun Fact
The name "swallowtail" is derived from the long "tails" present on the hind wings of the butterfly. These hind wings are said to resemble the tails of certain swallow species.