How to Identify a Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

What Does a Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly Look Like?

Courtesy Susan Perren

The zebra swallowtail butterfly is boldly zebra striped in black and white with red accents. Wings have bold black stripes on a white or teal-white background. Hindwings feature a red stripe on the underside and a lengthy tail. A red spot at the base of the wings creates a place for predators to aim away from the tiny body, increasing chances of survival.

Adults that emerge in summer tend to have even longer tails than springtime broods. Their wingspan is 2 1/2 to 4 inches.

Check out the ultimate tiger swallowtail butterfly guide.

Gardening for Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies

Courtesy Penny Rice

Host Plants

As caterpillars, they feed on the leaves of the small pawpaw tree or others in its genus. The pawpaw tree is common in shady woods, especially in the south.

Discover the top 10 swallowtail host plants and flowers to grow.

Backyard Nectar Plants

These butterflies enjoy nectar from blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud and milkweed. Check out more summer nectar flowers that attract butterflies.

What Do Zebra Swallowtail Caterpillars Look Like?

Shutterstock / Kevin Collison

Zebra swallowtail caterpillars are mostly green with one thicker blue, black and yellowish band close to the head. Thin yellow stripes accent their abdominal segments. Closer to hatching, caterpillars are darker.

Eggs are pale green, found on the tips of young leaves.

Learn how to identify a zebra longwing butterfly.

Zebra Swallowtail Range Map and Habitat

This species typically inhabits wide open areas to feed. To breed, it travels to wooded spaces around swamps and rivers. You’re most likely to see these butterflies in southern states. They range from the eastern parts of the Great Plains to the southern parts of the New England states.

Fun fact: The zebra swallowtail is Tennessee’s state butterfly.

Range maps provided by Kaufman Field Guides, the official field guide of Birds & Blooms.