The Zebra swallowtail is one of my favorite butterflies. I’ve often seen this butterfly while hiking woodland streams and watching for spring wildflowers. And I have seen it in our Lexington, Kentucky, backyard twice in the last two years. This photograph is special to me, because the butterfly is one I raised, and it was made shortly after the butterfly emerged from its chrysalis.
Zebra swallowtail butterfly caterpillar
This is the zebra swallowtail caterpillar, which my friend, Connie brought to me. At this stage it is about one-half inch long and feeding on paw-paw leaves, the only leaves it will eat.
Zebra swallowtail chrysalis
One week later it was about one inch long, and it then made this chrysalis.
Zebra swallowtail butterfly and chrysalis
Two weeks later it emerged from its chrysalis at the left of this image and became a mature buttefly. After a couple of hours, it’s wings were hardened, it took flight and was gone. I’m ever amazed at the wonders of nature, which certainly include the life cycles of butterflies and I thoroughly enjoyed observing this one.
Gorgeous images. I am LOVING the blog. Keep it up!
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing. Zebra swallowtail larva only eat pawpaw leaves like monarchs only eat milkweed. I wonder, is each variety butterfly as dietarily selective?
Beth, good question. As to butterflies being selective – it depends. Pipevine swallowtail lays eggs only on pipevine. Spicebush only on spicebush and sassafras. Black swallowtail on members of the carrot family, dill, fennel, parsley, carrots, and Queen Anne’s lace. Not all are as restrictive – but most need native plants.
Beautiful Betty. I love the detail you captured in that first image.
My 1st grader was chosen to do a class project on Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies and I found your page very helpful and educating. We are both excited about to learn that you had them in your own backyard. We will soon be moving to Kentucky and hopeful we can take care of some as well! Thank you so much for posting such beautiful pictures. =)
Good job, Betty. I’m raising larvae now. Any hints on keeping pawpaw cuttings from wilting? (parsley is easy…) Will these late August zebra pupae hatch or overwinter – (near Baltimore)? If the latter, how to care for them? I have overwintered tiger swallowtail pupae.
Thanks, Sue. I’m impressed that you have zebra swallowtail larvae right now. As to keeping pawpaw cuttings fresh – all I know to do with shrubs is keep the cuttings shorts, cut the stems on a slant, and change the water frequently. And sometimes I make vertical cuts at the bottom of the stem.
I would guess the chrysalises will not emerge until spring but can’t be sure. As to overwintering, I’ve kept chrysalises in our garage but I also think they will do fine in a sheltered spot outdoors. I would guess whatever worked for the tiger swallowtail will also work for the zebra.
I’ve never found a tiger caterpillar so you are ahead of me on that one.
Re: black swallowtail caterpillars. Ha, ha. First you plant dill, fennel and parsley with the intention of having fresh herbs. If you do cut a tiny sprig, you examine it with a magnifying glass for eggs or the freshly hatched caterpillars (they look like bird droppings at first). The neighbors think you are selfish for not sharing your herb garden in exchange for their tomatoes. Then you go to the grocery store and buy parsley and dill.
Yes, Sue, and next year you plant a lot more dill, fennel, and parsley. And then you look for other folks who would like to help you raise those caterpillars. Great fun!
You are right, Betty. They were all the black phase; I thought those were just a variety of the tigers. What do the tiger (yellow with black) caterpillars eat? Now you’ve pushed my challenge button. Lots to learn. Keep writing.
Sue, I understand that the tiger swallowtail often feeds on tulip poplars and sweet bay magnolias. Yes, no end to the learning.
Three of 5 zebras hatched. The other two aren’t doing anything, so maybe they’ve decided to overwinter. One of the black swallowtail pupae is past its hatching date. Thanks for the tiger info. We have lots of tulip poplars and lots of tiger butterflies. Next spring I will go caterpillar hunting. Also, by the way, the neighbors’ kids brought me an Io moth caterpillar. About 4 inches long. Wow. We didn’t cover the pail…and it seems to have escaped. hmmm I wonder how that happened???
Sue, sounds like lots going on there. The Io moth would be a most exciting find. Sorry it escaped.
Betty, this is fabulous!!!
I’d first seen Zebra Swallowtail here in Harlan County. Never saw in Ohio nor Boone County. I’d seen adults visiting Paw Paw trees and assumed they were laying eggs – perhaps I might spot a caterpillar on tree – no luck – had taken some cuttings from tree and had them in container with water on front porch to root.
Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I noted a diminutive caterpillar eating a leaf on one of my cuttings! It increased its size rapidly over succeeding days until it quit eating yesterday. Today I have a chrysalis!
Great story! Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a beautiful zebra soon.