During mating, the male secretes a chemical on the female’s abdomen that keeps other males from trying to mate with her. The striking colors and pattern of the adults advert… Sharing and commenting via the social media links below will help me greatly, and is much appreciated Read on and enjoy a variety of interesting information about butterflies. The newly laid eggs are tiny yellow oval-shaped spheres, usually found on the tender tips of young passionvine leaves and tendrils. They are picky about the species of passionvine they will eat. The head is yellow. These bold colors are a warning to predators of the butterfly’s toxicity. Zebra longwings feed on nectar and pollen.
Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The caterpillars feed on these plants and acquire some of their toxins; this makes them distasteful to predators. The protein-rich pollen provides more nutrients than nectar alone and is credited as the reason for this species’ longevity. Gulf Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and Julia butterflies all eat passionvine. A denizen of more forested settings, it frequents subtropical hammocks, forest margins, shrubby thickets, and adjacent open areas. I've been watching zebras for years, so I can't help but know one or two things! Zebras fly in slow, lazy, swooping paths. Many Fritillary species of butterflies eat Violets. With Florida’s abundant all-year blooms, flurried butterfly activity is a welcome sight on hikes. These pupa look like insects with a claspper on one end. They are often various sizes, from adults laying eggs are various times on the available tender growth.Caterpillars hang in a J shape before pupating. Zebra Longwing! A zebra longwing caterpillar has a white body covered with long black spines.Female zebra longwing butterflies mate as soon as they’ve emerged from their chrysalis. They frequent moist tropical forests and surrounding fields and are active year round. They are usually found in Florida and some areas in the state of Texas but can also be seen fluttering around in central states during warmer seasons. Butterfly Pictures: Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charithonia) Return to Butterfly Pictures Home Page. After mating the female lays eggs on one of several species of passion flower plants Passiflora. Their toxic nature comes from chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides that taste bitter, and if ingested, are bad for one’s health. ;) Pupae range from light brown/cream to dark brown, almost black.Chrysalises often pop up in unexpected places. At night, they roost together in groups of 25 to 30 adults. The zebra longwing butterfly (which scientific name is Heliconius charitonia) also has some rows of small yellow spots found on the rear end of its wings. These intelligent insects remember their favorite food sources, and will return to the same plants each day to feed. The zebra longwing butterfly is found throughout Florida in hardwood hammocks, thickets, gardens, and particularly in the Everglades National Park. Pupa. Most butterflies live only 2-4 weeks, but the zebra longwing … They will mix pollen with moisture and drink pollen after it has begun to liquefy.Zebra Longwing butterflies are known for ‘pupal rape’. Found primarily in Gulf Coast states and the Carolinas, they prefer shadier area over bright sunny locations. Florida's state butterfly calls the ELC home and September is a great time to come see them in large numbers! It has a wide range of habitats, including hardwood hammocks, thickets, and gardens. Beautiful! Long black wings with distinctive thin yellow bands - combined with slow, graceful flight - characterize the zebra longwing (Heliconius charitonius).
Noramlly found under Passion vine leaves in shaded areas.