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 164 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 14, 2018
Submitted by: Beethoven
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2018
Observation date: Dec 23, 2016
Submitted by: Greg Braun
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 20, 2018
Observation date: Sep 16, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 16, 2018
Observation date: Oct 25, 2017
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: scfl47
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors son
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Nov 15, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 06, 2018
Observation date: Mar 08, 2018
Submitted by: John429
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Feb 07, 2018
Submitted by: Mensore
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2018
Observation date: Jan 03, 2018
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 05, 2018
Observation date: Dec 15, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors son
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 24, 2018
Observation date: Nov 30, 2017
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 10, 2017
Observation date: Nov 10, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
Observation date: May 14, 2016
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 19, 2017
Observation date: Nov 18, 2017
Submitted by: ftn9549b
Region: Texas, Matagorda County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 18, 2017
Observation date: Nov 05, 2012
Submitted by: Jettabetta
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 10, 2017
Observation date: Oct 28, 2017
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2017
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
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