Julia Heliconian
Dryas iulia (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Forewings elongate. Male bright orange above and below; upperside of hindwing with narrow black border on outer margin. Female duller orange, with more black markings above.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 3 5/8 inches (8.2 - 9.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol all day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new growth; caterpillars feed on leaves. Adults forage along a set route of nectar sources each day in a behavior known as "trap-lining".
Flight: Throughout the year in southern Florida and South Texas, strays to the north in summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Passion-vines including Passiflora lutea in Texas.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lantana and shepherd\'s needle; probably others.
Habitat: Subtropical hammock openings and edges, and nearby fields.
Range: Resident in Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, West Indies, peninsular Florida, and South Texas. Strays north to eastern Nebraska.
Conservation: Not usually required, but habitat in South Texas is limited.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 261 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Feb 11, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Apr 17, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Feb 11, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2015
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: May 02, 2013
Submitted by: riemensc
Region: San Jose, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jan 13, 2013
Submitted by: Tee-tee
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jan 19, 2016
Submitted by: W Fogleman
Region: Heredia, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 02, 2022
Observation date: Jan 25, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 12, 2022
Observation date: Sep 09, 2015
Submitted by: mborn12
Region: Heredia, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Feb 09, 2020
Submitted by: Paul N
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Dec 25, 2021
Submitted by: brandonlloyd
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jun 16, 2022
Observation date: Jan 04, 2007
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
Observation date: May 07, 2022
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: Apr 20, 2018
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: May 03, 2022
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 29, 2018
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 08, 2022
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 12, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2021
Submitted by: Lani57
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 05, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 10, 2022
Observation date: Feb 02, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Nov 17, 2011
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
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