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
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 866 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 11, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2022
Observation date: Nov 09, 2020
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Jan 27, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Mar 05, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Feb 22, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Feb 25, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 26, 2022
Observation date: Jan 06, 2022
Submitted by: Lani57
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Jan 20, 2022
Submitted by: jnchandler
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 30, 2022
Observation date: Jan 15, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jan 19, 2022
Observation date: Jan 13, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 13, 2022
Observation date: Jan 12, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 15, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 21, 2021
Observation date: Nov 12, 2021
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 21, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2003
Submitted by: heinert
Region: District of Columbia, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Nov 18, 2021
Observation date: Nov 17, 2021
Submitted by: Eldiem
Region: Hancock County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 18, 2021
Observation date: Nov 01, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Oct 26, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: dlb1117
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: JamesACottingham
Region: Coffee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Oct 10, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2021
Observation date: Oct 08, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
- ‹ previous
- 5 of 37
- next ›