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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 149 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
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
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 7
- next ›