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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 162 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 13, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 29, 2025
Observation date: Mar 13, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 28, 2025
Observation date: Feb 18, 2025
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 02, 2025
Observation date: Feb 02, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 15, 2025
Observation date: Nov 25, 2024
Submitted by: okami0731@gmail.com
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 28, 2024
Observation date: Nov 17, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 18, 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 17, 2024
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 17, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: Lepcurious
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Tatiana Staats
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: GH16112
Region: Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Mar 22, 2024
Submitted by: David B
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2024
Observation date: Feb 11, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2024
Observation date: Feb 07, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 07, 2024
Observation date: Feb 04, 2024
Submitted by: smnelson
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: lello
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 07, 2024
Observation date: Nov 11, 2023
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 25, 2023
Observation date: Nov 19, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 20, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 23, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2023
Submitted by: jramil1267@hotm...
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
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