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 32 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 02, 2017
Observation date: Dec 31, 2016
Submitted by: Darrin Frye
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2017
Observation date: Feb 07, 2017
Submitted by: Bleem
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 15, 2017
Observation date: Nov 06, 2016
Submitted by: totonka
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2016
Observation date: Nov 06, 2016
Submitted by: Robert Epstein
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 08, 2016
Observation date: Sep 23, 2016
Submitted by: maltman13
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 24, 2016
Observation date: Mar 30, 2016
Submitted by: geraldswegner
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: geraldswegner
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Sep 09, 2016
Submitted by: Lepcurious
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2016
Observation date: Feb 04, 2016
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 25, 2016
Observation date: Dec 01, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2015
Observation date: Jul 24, 2014
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
Observation date: Mar 19, 2014
Submitted by: Maryabrown
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 22, 2014
Observation date: Feb 09, 2008
Submitted by: Joe Sebastiani
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 04, 2014
Observation date: Feb 01, 2012
Submitted by: stilwellsa
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2012
Observation date: Feb 01, 2012
Submitted by: stilwellsa
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2012
Observation date: Apr 08, 2008
Submitted by: jomarlin
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Stephanie Sanchez)
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Stephanie Sanchez)
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Stephanie Sanchez)
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Stephanie Sanchez)
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jan 01, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (professor at Mississippi State College for Women)
Region: Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mather (1976, Butterflies of Mississippi, Suppl. no. 2))
Verified date: Jun 04, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George H. French)
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Irwin & Downey (1972, Annot. Checklist of the Butterflies of Illinois))
Verified date: Jun 04, 2008
Observation date: Sep 12, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Katy Roberts)
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Feb 25, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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