Florida Purplewing
Eunica tatila (Herrich-Schäffer, [1855])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Biblidinae
Identification: Upperside of both wings is brown with purple iridescence at bases. Outer half of forewing with 6 or 7 white spots, forewing apex with an irregular margin. Hindwing has 6 or 7 white eyespots at margin.
Wing Span: 1 9/16 - 2 7/16 inches (4 - 6.2 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: Throughout the year in southern Florida.
Caterpillar Hosts: Not reported.
Adult Food: Decaying fruit, nectar from Lantana and Cordia.
Habitat: Hardwood hammocks in the Florida Keys, river forests elsewhere.
Range: Argentina through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida. Strays to South Texas, and rarely to Kansas.
Conservation: Conserve remaining habitat on Florida Keys.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat so as to protect remaining hardwood hammocks.
Thank you!
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.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 41 verified sightings

Observation date: Apr 21, 2023
Submitted by: BirdMan52
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2023

Observation date: Nov 11, 2022
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 15, 2023

Observation date: Feb 21, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Campeche, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 25, 2022

Observation date: Sep 26, 2010
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022

Observation date: Sep 04, 2008
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022

Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 02, 2022

Observation date: May 19, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 19, 2021

Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021

Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021

Observation date: Mar 01, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 12, 2021

Observation date: Jan 24, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 29, 2021

Observation date: Jan 24, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 29, 2021

Observation date: Jan 24, 2021
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 29, 2021

Observation date: May 09, 2014
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2020

Observation date: Aug 05, 2019
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 08, 2019

Observation date: Jan 06, 2018
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Jan 11, 2018

Observation date: Dec 22, 2017
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 25, 2017

Observation date: Apr 27, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 03, 2016

Observation date: Sep 07, 2008
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 03, 2013

Observation date: Nov 01, 2012
Submitted by: gaudettelaura@h...
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 12, 2012

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010

Observation date: Jun 16, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Fine)
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. Calhoun)
Verified date: Aug 30, 2007

Observation date: Jun 01, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mark Salvato)
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. Calhoun)
Verified date: Aug 30, 2007

Observation date: Oct 21, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
- 1 of 2
- next ›