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 25 - 48 of 78 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 12, 2019
Submitted by: smkwoods689
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 13, 2019
Observation date: Mar 11, 2019
Submitted by: Yulia
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2019
Observation date: Dec 24, 2018
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 07, 2019
Observation date: Dec 14, 2018
Submitted by: a-mauney
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 14, 2018
Observation date: Jul 29, 2018
Submitted by: EatYourTv
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 20, 2018
Submitted by: wlu
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: LunaMar
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: casita
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2018
Observation date: Jul 30, 2018
Submitted by: EatYourTv
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 30, 2018
Observation date: Jul 24, 2018
Submitted by: Butterflygarden1
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 03, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 26, 2016
Submitted by: Greg Braun
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Apr 28, 2018
Submitted by: Greg Braun
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Mar 04, 2018
Submitted by: Gvrothwell
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 08, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Feb 24, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 25, 2018
Observation date: Feb 07, 2018
Submitted by: bpattersonweber
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2018
Observation date: Jan 22, 2018
Submitted by: bpattersonweber
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2018
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: Jim Saunders
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2017
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
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