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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 349 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 22, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Corozal District, Belize
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: May 08, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2025
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: Apr 18, 2025
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2025
Observation date: Nov 24, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 03, 2024
Observation date: Nov 03, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Nov 02, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 12, 2024
Observation date: Nov 06, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 07, 2024
Observation date: Nov 01, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 06, 2024
Observation date: Nov 04, 2024
Submitted by: princessmarilyn
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 22, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 28, 2024
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 21, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: Sapper Dan
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 21, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 19, 2024
Observation date: Sep 29, 2024
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 05, 2024
Observation date: Dec 03, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: May 29, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: jacobsjd
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 10, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: May 17, 2024
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