Banded Orange Heliconian
Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Male upperside bright orange with heavy black stripes; female duller with blurred black stripes.
Wing Span: 3 3/8 - 3 1/2 inches (8.6 - 8.9 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on stems and leaves of host plants. Caterpillars chew slots into the leaves. Adults roost in small groups on grass.
Flight: July and December in Texas, all year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various species of passion-vine (Passiflora and Tetrastylis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar and bird droppings.
Habitat: Lowland tropical fields and open areas.
Range: Brazil north through Central America to central Mexico. Rare vagrant to Kansas and Texas.
Conservation: Not necessary for rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 28 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 18, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Apr 21, 2025
Observation date: Jan 30, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Belize District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 25, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Jan 03, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2017
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2007
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 27, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Dec 19, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Feb 22, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Tabasco, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Nov 20, 2017
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 29, 2017
Submitted by: Cat Traylor
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2017
Observation date: Apr 18, 2017
Submitted by: DanLeifheit
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 21, 2017
Observation date: Oct 20, 2013
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Oct 20, 2013
Observation date: Jul 14, 2013
Submitted by: mgrosselet
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Aug 11, 2013
Observation date: Jul 28, 2013
Submitted by: mzdowns
Region: Texas, Kendall County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 29, 2013
Observation date: Nov 18, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Choluteca, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 19, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Mar 28, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Key Largo County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Ellis County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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