Attributes of Eumaeus atala
Atala
Eumaeus atala (Poey, 1832)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Abdomen red-orange. Upperside of male wings soft black with iridescent green overlay and markings; female has blue iridescence at basal areas. Underside dull black, hindwing with large red-orange spot and 3 rows of irregular iridescent gold spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid in groups on upperside of leaf tips. Caterpillars feed in groups out in the open.
Flight: Many flights throughout the year, but most common in early summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Coontie (Zamia pumila), a shrubby, fernlike native cycad of Florida and the Bahamas; several other introduced plants of the family Cycadaceae.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lantana, periwinkle, shepherd's needle, and wild coffee.
Habitat: Subtropical shady hammocks and neighboring open areas; gardens with ornamental cycads.
Range: Southeastern Florida and the Keys, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
Conservation: Eumaeus atala florida is ranked endangered by the State of Florida; may recolonize from the Bahamas. Subspecies florida has The Nature Conservancy rank of T3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
NCGR:
Management Needs: Prevent destruction of habitats with Coontie. Control of caterpillars on ornamental cycads is sometimes necessary. Reintroduce Coontie to the Florida Keys.
Taxonomy Notes:
Images of Eumaeus atala
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The map below displays all verified sighting records in the BAMONA database for this species. Each record is indicated with a yellow dot. The orange dots on the map provide access to information about the 400 most recently verified sightings of this species. In some instances, there are several records at the same location. Use the table view to access these records.
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The fifty most recently verified sightings are below. See more recently verified sightings of all species.
| Observation Date | Submitter | Region |
Verified Date |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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February 01, 2012 | stilwellsa | Collier County, Florida, United States | February 27, 2012 | Details |
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February 01, 2012 | stilwellsa | Collier County, Florida, United States | February 27, 2012 | Details |
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April 08, 2008 | jomarlin | Palm Beach County, Florida, United States | September 11, 2011 | Details |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter (George H. French) | Jackson County, Illinois, United States | June 04, 2008 | Details | |
| January 01, 1966 | legacy.reporter (professor at Mississippi State College for Women) | Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States | June 04, 2008 | Details | |
| September 12, 2007 | legacy.reporter (Katy Roberts) | Pinellas County, Florida, United States | February 25, 2008 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Broward County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Martin County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Monroe County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Palm Beach County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Eliott Key County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Key Largo County, Florida, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Jackson County, Illinois, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details | |
| January 01, 1950 | legacy.reporter | Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States | December 31, 2004 | Details |
