Julia Heliconian
Dryas iulia (Fabricius, 1775)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Forewings elongate. Male bright orange above and below; upperside of hindwing with narrow black border on outer margin. Female duller orange, with more black markings above.
Wing Span: 3 1/4 - 3 5/8 inches (8.2 - 9.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol all day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new growth; caterpillars feed on leaves. Adults forage along a set route of nectar sources each day in a behavior known as "trap-lining".
Flight: Throughout the year in southern Florida and South Texas, strays to the north in summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Passion-vines including Passiflora lutea in Texas.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lantana and shepherd\'s needle; probably others.
Habitat: Subtropical hammock openings and edges, and nearby fields.
Range: Resident in Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, West Indies, peninsular Florida, and South Texas. Strays north to eastern Nebraska.
Conservation: Not usually required, but habitat in South Texas is limited.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 344 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: islandgyal
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Feb 21, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Mar 26, 2024
Submitted by: Tallyho Butterf...
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 28, 2024
Observation date: Mar 21, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 21, 2024
Observation date: Mar 09, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2024
Observation date: Jan 19, 2024
Submitted by: David-R
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 05, 2024
Observation date: Jan 27, 2024
Submitted by: David-R
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2005
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Missouri, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 17, 2005
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2008
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2010
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Feb 17, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 17, 2024
Observation date: Jan 12, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jan 15, 2024
Observation date: Nov 20, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Nov 19, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 20, 2023
Observation date: Nov 19, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Cayman Islands
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: J_Stern
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: Dec 04, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: Dec 29, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 22, 2023
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