Atala
Eumaeus atala (Poey, 1832)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Abdomen red-orange. Upperside of male wings soft black with iridescent green overlay and markings; female has blue iridescence at basal areas. Underside dull black, hindwing with large red-orange spot and 3 rows of irregular iridescent gold spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid in groups on upperside of leaf tips. Caterpillars feed in groups out in the open.
Flight: Many flights throughout the year, but most common in early summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Coontie (Zamia pumila), a shrubby, fernlike native cycad of Florida and the Bahamas; several other introduced plants of the family Cycadaceae.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lantana, periwinkle, shepherd's needle, and wild coffee.
Habitat: Subtropical shady hammocks and neighboring open areas; gardens with ornamental cycads.
Range: Southeastern Florida and the Keys, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
Conservation: Eumaeus atala florida is ranked endangered by the State of Florida; may recolonize from the Bahamas. Subspecies florida has The Nature Conservancy rank of T3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
NCGR:
Management Needs: Prevent destruction of habitats with Coontie. Control of caterpillars on ornamental cycads is sometimes necessary. Reintroduce Coontie to the Florida Keys.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 128 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 18, 2022
Submitted by: Denisey
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 13, 2023
Observation date: Jan 08, 2023
Submitted by: Jeff Gomas
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 09, 2023
Observation date: Dec 20, 2022
Submitted by: Bfaha
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 21, 2022
Observation date: Dec 01, 2022
Submitted by: Rockledge EcoRaiders
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 02, 2022
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: Kabbott
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2018
Submitted by: RNeilson
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Jan 10, 1991
Submitted by: johnmiller
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 02, 2022
Submitted by: susanpapes
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: HoneyBunny
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Feb 23, 2021
Submitted by: MARK CONNOLLY
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: birdlady1
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 15, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: Spaghxtti
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
Observation date: Nov 29, 2021
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 02, 2022
Observation date: Jan 02, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
Observation date: Jan 01, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 02, 2022
Observation date: Dec 27, 2021
Submitted by: jwphoto
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 28, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 10, 2021
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 10, 2021
Observation date: Nov 17, 2021
Submitted by: jwphoto
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 19, 2021
Observation date: Nov 08, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 09, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Jan 01, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
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