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 25 - 48 of 867 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 18, 2023
Submitted by: labkitten
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 19, 2023
Observation date: Nov 16, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 11, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 22, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 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 27, 2023
Submitted by: altoonamothlady
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Nov 22, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 10, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: La Libertad, 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
Observation date: Mar 19, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Jose, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Apr 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 20, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: BirdMan52
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Mar 28, 2022
Submitted by: rarluck@gmail.com
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 21, 2023
Observation date: Mar 03, 2023
Submitted by: nikkicacc
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2023
Observation date: Feb 08, 2023
Submitted by: BriannaMerkelson
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2023
Observation date: Jan 24, 2023
Submitted by: Niayre
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2023
Observation date: Feb 28, 2023
Submitted by: BriannaMerkelson
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Feb 09, 2022
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Nov 25, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
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