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Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.
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 361 - 384 of 892 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 26, 2016
Submitted by: Greg Braun
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2016
Submitted by: peconover
Region: Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Nov 15, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 06, 2018
Observation date: May 04, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: May 11, 2018
Submitted by: PaulaLyons
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: May 12, 2018
Submitted by: sstatner
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: May 10, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: May 03, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 04, 2018
Observation date: Apr 25, 2018
Submitted by: Sunrise22
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 26, 2018
Observation date: Sep 11, 2017
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 08, 2018
Submitted by: John429
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 23, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Oct 02, 2017
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Bulloch County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 12, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2017
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 02, 2018
Observation date: Jan 28, 2018
Submitted by: Reiner Jakubowski
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Jan 29, 2018
Submitted by: Reiner Jakubowski
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Jan 04, 2018
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 05, 2018
Observation date: Dec 06, 2017
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 24, 2018
Observation date: Dec 15, 2017
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 24, 2018
Observation date: Nov 11, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 08, 2018
Observation date: Nov 25, 2017
Submitted by: Mario98
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 26, 2017
Observation date: Oct 21, 2017
Submitted by: Tcmhbctmg
Region: Marion County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 17, 2017
Observation date: Oct 20, 2017
Submitted by: Katie707
Region: Muscogee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 17, 2017
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