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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 146 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 15, 2015
Submitted by: Jim Saunders
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
Observation date: Feb 17, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Oct 11, 2017
Observation date: Oct 08, 2017
Submitted by: Mario98
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 10, 2017
Observation date: May 04, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 21, 2017
Observation date: Feb 02, 2017
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 29, 2012
Submitted by: Bill Pranty
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 30, 2012
Submitted by: Bill Pranty
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Feb 24, 2017
Submitted by: RobBuckButterflier
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2017
Observation date: Apr 19, 2017
Submitted by: mercretas
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 04, 2017
Observation date: Feb 16, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 17, 2017
Observation date: Jan 15, 2007
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 11, 2017
Observation date: Nov 03, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 12, 2016
Observation date: Oct 23, 2016
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 12, 2016
Observation date: Oct 31, 2016
Submitted by: virtualhorizon
Region: Texas, United States, Wichita County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 01, 2016
Observation date: Oct 23, 2016
Submitted by: hoodidoo
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 27, 2016
Observation date: Sep 22, 2016
Submitted by: Yoki Hayashi
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 29, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2013
Submitted by: jakester322
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 02, 2016
Observation date: Jan 29, 2016
Submitted by: TEHurley
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 02, 2016
Observation date: May 23, 2016
Submitted by: scfl47
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 23, 2016
Observation date: May 15, 2016
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 19, 2016
Observation date: Nov 06, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 06, 2016
Observation date: Sep 26, 2015
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 29, 2015
Observation date: Aug 15, 2015
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 16, 2015
Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: Ellen Mee
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 02, 2015
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