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 601 - 624 of 896 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 18, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Larry Muller)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 31, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tony Battiste)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 19, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. Mitchell)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 19, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mary Klinkel)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 20, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (GP Bruyea)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 14, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Janine McCabe)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 27, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tony Battiste)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 20, 2011
Submitted by: huatulco
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Nov 15, 2012
Observation date: Feb 03, 2000
Submitted by: Tim Bagworth
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 11, 2012
Observation date: Oct 02, 2012
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2012
Observation date: Oct 13, 2012
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Laurens County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 02, 2012
Observation date: Oct 28, 2012
Submitted by: Kimberly Mrozinski
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 28, 2012
Observation date: Sep 22, 2012
Submitted by: jlittlejohn
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2012
Observation date: Sep 01, 2012
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 21, 2012
Observation date: Sep 09, 2012
Submitted by: Clocke
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Sep 14, 2012
Observation date: Aug 24, 2012
Submitted by: naturecoastnatu...
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 05, 2012
Observation date: Sep 04, 2012
Submitted by: TyrannyRains
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 05, 2012
Observation date: Sep 07, 2002
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 03, 2012
Observation date: Sep 02, 2012
Submitted by: jjflossem
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 03, 2012
Observation date: Jun 21, 2012
Submitted by: scfl47
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2012
Observation date: Apr 28, 2012
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Jackie Miller
Verified date: Jul 03, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2012
Submitted by: jwunder3
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: jwunder3
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 23, 2012
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