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 98 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 30, 2015
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: marissamakes
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Mar 29, 2021
Submitted by: marissamakes
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Feb 25, 2021
Submitted by: Twinmom913
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 25, 2021
Observation date: Nov 28, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Nov 07, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 11, 2020
Observation date: May 14, 2020
Submitted by: sfbflyhelp
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Dianag
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: SurfahSistah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Dec 17, 2019
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: k. egor
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
Observation date: May 07, 2020
Submitted by: Onel H
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 08, 2020
Observation date: Jan 20, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 22, 2020
Observation date: Jan 19, 2020
Submitted by: JC’s Garden
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 19, 2020
Observation date: Dec 25, 2019
Submitted by: magnolyah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 29, 2019
Observation date: Dec 06, 2019
Submitted by: Penebe2919@gmail.com
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 06, 2019
Observation date: Nov 22, 2019
Submitted by: Argyle
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 22, 2019
Observation date: Dec 28, 2018
Submitted by: Ssneed
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: Wwetmore
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Wwetmore
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Argyle
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
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