Zebra Longwing

by Sharon LaPlante

The zebra longwing (Heliconius charitonius) is usually found floating lazily through woodlands & woodland edges in search of nectar & its host plants. Its host plants, Passiflora lutea & Passiflora suberosa prefer the part shade of woodlands & woodland edges.

At night they roost in shrubbery with a large number gathering in the same location. They are thought to be one of the most intelligent butterflies. Newly emerged butterflies readily learn locations of nectar sources and communal roosting sites from older adults. There life span ranges from four to six months. They are also one of only a few butterflies that are able to use pollen as food source.

Zebra longwings are black and banded with narrow yellow stripes. The bases of wings have red spots.

Some of their preferred nectar plants are Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa), red salvia (Salvia coccinea), blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), golden dewdrop (Duranta repens) & firebush (Hamelia patens)

Zebras lay their eggs on passion vines. They prefer Passiflora lutea & Passiflora suberosa because both of these species generally grow in part shade. Zebras avoid full sun when nectaring and laying eggs because their black coloration absorbs a great deal of heat. Passiflora incarnata grows in full sun and is usually not used if they have a choice of the other species.

The eggs are pale yellow and become darker with age. They are laid singly on the new leaf tips or new tendrils.

The larva, or caterpillar, is white with rows of branching black spines, which are stingless.

The chrysalis is spiny and mottled brown with metallic spots on the side.

Ajilvsgi, Geyata. Butterfly Gardening for the South. Taylor Publishing: Dallas, TX. 1990

Emmel, Thomas. Florida's Fabulous Butterflies. World Publications: Tampa, FL. 1997

Huegel, Craig. Butterfly Gardening with Florida's Native Plants. Florida Native Plant Society: Orlando, FL. 1992

The Audubon Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Knopf: New York, NY. 1992

Wright, Amy Bartlett. Peterson First Guide to Caterpillars of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co.: New York, NY. 1990

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