Eurytides marcellus is the only kite swallowtail native to the U.S.
   Their triangular wings are white to greenish white with black longitudinal stripes.
   A pair of swordlike tails extend from the hindwings. The inner margin of the hindwing has two blue spots on the corner and a red spot near the body.
   A red stripe runs along the middle of the ventral hindwing.
    Their are two seasonal forms, one occurring in the spring and the other in the summer.
    Spring forms are smaller, more white, and have short, black tails with white tips while summer forms are larger, have broader black stripes, and longer, black tails with white edges.
    They can be seen on wing from late March to August in the northern part of their range and from February to December in the southern portion.
   Males patrol near their host plants in search of females, flying swiftly and directly. (They usually fly 0.5 to 1.8 m (2 to 6 ft) above the ground.)
   Females will fly quite slowly when searching for suitable host plants.
   Both males and females avidly visit flowers, including species from the families Apocynaceae, Brassicaceae, 
Fabaceae, Lythraceae, Polemoniaceae, and Rosaceae.
    Males practice a behavior known as puddling, where individuals congregate on sand, gravel, or moist soil to obtain salts and amino acids.
   These nutrients aid the male in reproduction. 
   Other food sources include rotting fruit and urine.
   Amazingly, where most butterflies live as adults fo only 1 - 2 wks., Eurytides marcellus can live up to six months after emerging from the pupal stage in their natural habitat.