Isabella's Heliconian
Eueides isabella (Stoll, 1781)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Forewing elongated with rounded apex. Wings similar above and below. Apical half of forewing black with yellow areas; basal half orange with a black stripe. Hindwing orange with 2 black stripes; white dots along the black outer margin.
Wing Span: 3 1/16 - 3 1/2 inches (7.8 - 9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for receptive females, who may mate more than once. Eggs are laid singly on tendrils or on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars then feed on those parts of the plant. Adults roost alone on underside of leaves.
Flight: April-July in Texas, throughout the year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Passion-vines (Passiflora species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical woodland edges, scrub, and brushy fields.
Range: Brazil north to Mexico and the West Indies; periodic immigrant to central Texas.
Conservation: Not required for irregular resident.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 26 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 30, 2021
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 21, 2022
Observation date: Jan 01, 2022
Submitted by: DannyNYC711
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 20, 2022
Observation date: Jan 12, 2019
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 14, 2019
Observation date: Dec 04, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 15, 2017
Observation date: Feb 16, 2012
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Bocas del Toro Province, Panama
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 09, 2014
Observation date: Aug 10, 2013
Submitted by: solarhaven2
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 14, 2014
Observation date: Apr 12, 2012
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
Observation date: Oct 03, 2010
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 09, 2013
Observation date: Oct 20, 2010
Submitted by: houstonguy
Region: Houston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Mar 27, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 17, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Oct 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 01, 2007
Observation date: Nov 27, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (North American Butterfly Association (NABA) of South Texas))
Verified date: Jan 29, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lyon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Thomas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, San Patricio County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Ellis County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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