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.
Taxonomy Notes: Also called the Zebra Longwing.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Heliconius charithonius
Heliconius charitonius
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 265 - 288 of 892 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 26, 2019
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Suchitepéquez, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 17, 2019
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Columbia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Sep 13, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Sep 13, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: Jazzejan
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 03, 2019
Submitted by: Markus M
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: May 17, 2019
Submitted by: Wwetmore
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: nohatsplease
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 12, 2019
Observation date: Jan 20, 2017
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: Norman Winter
Region: Muscogee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 09, 2019
Observation date: Oct 20, 2012
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Oct 25, 2012
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 24, 2019
Observation date: Jul 18, 2019
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Argyle
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
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