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 650 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 23, 2020
Submitted by: Stan C
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2020
Observation date: Feb 27, 2020
Submitted by: RMarkows
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 29, 2020
Observation date: Feb 29, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 29, 2020
Observation date: Feb 17, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 23, 2020
Observation date: Feb 20, 2020
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 21, 2020
Observation date: Jan 11, 2020
Submitted by: RMarkows
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 15, 2020
Observation date: Dec 21, 2019
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
Observation date: Dec 29, 2019
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
Observation date: Dec 29, 2019
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
Observation date: Oct 01, 2019
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 26, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: James Lofton
Region: Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2017
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Allendale County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 11, 2019
Submitted by: JoyceSw
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 22, 2019
Submitted by: molsen
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 22, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 20, 2019
Observation date: Oct 16, 2019
Submitted by: NaturallyWade
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2019
Observation date: Oct 16, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 16, 2019
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2019
Observation date: Mar 04, 2015
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 09, 2019
Submitted by: David Allio
Region: Jefferson County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 09, 2019
Observation date: Oct 06, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 06, 2019
Observation date: Oct 06, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 06, 2019
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
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