onthetrail.shtml

Geo Adventure #1:

On the Trail of the Zebra Swallowtail

In the map below, counties where the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly definitely has been seen are colored blue.

Zebra Swallowtail Distribution Map

Source: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/tn/694.htm

According to this map, have Zebra Swallowtails been seen in your county? Could this map be wrong?

In the map below, counties where Paw Paw trees definitely have been found are colored orange.

Paw Paw Distribution Map

Source: http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/database/

According to this map, have Paw Paw Trees been found in your county? Could this map be wrong?

Zebra Swallowtail caterpillars eat only Paw Paw leaves. Scientists think they may store up toxic chemicals from the leaves. Then, when a bird eats one of the caterpillars, it may get sick and learn to leave the other caterpillars alone!

Compare the two maps. Find the counties where Zebra Swallowtails have been seen, but no paw paw trees have been reported. How could that happen?

Have Zebra Swallowtails been seen in all the counties with paw paw trees? If not, is that surprising?

How accurate do you think these maps are? Could both paw paw trees and zebra swallowtails be more widespread in Tennessee than the maps indicate?

Junior Naturalist Challenge:

Print out the ID Cards for the Paw Paw and the Zebra Swallowtail.

If you think you see either one of these, fill out a card.

If possible, collect additional “evidence”. (Suggestions: make a sketch, take a photograph, or collect and press some leaves.)

If possible, get an adult to confirm your identification.

File your report online.

Bibliography

Chemical Defense in the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly, Eurytides marcellus, Involving Annonaceous Acetogenins

(http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/jtextd?jnprdf/asap/html/np980308s.html)