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 722 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 09, 2012
Submitted by: Mark Hutchinson
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 29, 2021
Observation date: Mar 22, 2013
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 27, 2021
Observation date: Jan 19, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 16, 2019
Submitted by: Mdmcbride
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 30, 2020
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 01, 2021
Observation date: Dec 30, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Dec 27, 2020
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020
Observation date: Dec 28, 2020
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020
Observation date: Sep 30, 2017
Submitted by: Seajewel
Region: Carteret County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Nov 04, 2017
Submitted by: AnitaSauer
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: May 12, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Oct 23, 2020
Submitted by: Bradford B. Owen Jr.
Region: McDowell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 03, 2020
Observation date: Nov 28, 2020
Submitted by: Steve Coleman
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Nov 10, 2020
Submitted by: June Welch
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Nov 28, 2020
Observation date: Nov 13, 2020
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 15, 2020
Observation date: Feb 03, 2014
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 10, 2020
Observation date: Feb 09, 2017
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 10, 2020
Observation date: Nov 03, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 04, 2020
Observation date: Nov 03, 2020
Submitted by: Becky Cover
Region: Rockdale County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 04, 2020
Observation date: Oct 24, 2020
Submitted by: Rebekahhowell
Region: Calhoun County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 27, 2020
Submitted by: John Demko
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 12, 2020
Submitted by: Stanley Rikard
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 14, 2020
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: TLee58flyinflowers
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 10, 2020
Observation date: Sep 02, 2020
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
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