Zebra Heliconian
Heliconius charithonia (Linnaeus, 1767)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Wings long and narrow; black with narrow yellow stripes.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 4 inches (7 - 10.1 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females, and are also attracted to female chrysalids. A male will wait on the chrysalis and mate with the female as she is about to emerge. He then deposits on her abdomen a chemical than repels other males. Eggs are laid in groups of 5-15 on leaf buds or leaves of the host plant; caterpillars feed at night on leaves. Adults roost communally in groups of 25-30 individuals.
Flight: All year in South Texas and southern Florida, wanders north during warmer months.
Caterpillar Hosts: Passion-vines including Passiflora suberosa, P. lutea, and P. affinis.
Adult Food: Flower nectar and pollen, which are gathered on a set foraging route or "trap-line". Favorite plants include lantana and shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Tropical hammocks, moist forests, edges, fields.
Range: South America north through Central America, West Indies, and Mexico to South Texas and peninsular Florida. Occasional immigrant north to New Mexico, Nebraska, and South Carolina.
Conservation: Not usually required, but habitat for permanent populations is limited in South Texas.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Maintain habitat and host plant colonies.
Comments: NULL
Taxonomy Notes: Also called the Zebra Longwing.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Heliconius charithonius
Heliconius charitonius
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 600 verified sightings
Observation date: May 18, 2019
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 21, 2019
Observation date: May 05, 2019
Submitted by: wlu
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 06, 2019
Observation date: May 02, 2019
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 25, 2017
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 02, 2019
Observation date: Apr 22, 2019
Submitted by: wlu
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 23, 2019
Observation date: Apr 12, 2019
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 19, 2019
Observation date: Jul 31, 2017
Submitted by: Ryan84
Region: Colleton County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 13, 2019
Observation date: Mar 28, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2019
Observation date: Mar 08, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2019
Observation date: Apr 07, 2019
Submitted by: Reiden
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2019
Observation date: Oct 26, 2018
Submitted by: UseppaButterfly
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 29, 2019
Observation date: Mar 27, 2019
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 28, 2019
Observation date: Mar 13, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2019
Observation date: Feb 25, 2019
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 02, 2018
Submitted by: KateTweedy
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 13, 2019
Observation date: Feb 08, 2019
Submitted by: Janeinmia
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 08, 2019
Observation date: Apr 15, 2005
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 06, 2019
Observation date: Jan 18, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 18, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: MissMary1224
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 03, 2019
Observation date: Dec 29, 2018
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 29, 2018
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 29, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2018
Observation date: Jul 10, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2018
Observation date: Dec 16, 2018
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 17, 2018
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