Florida’s State Butterfly, the Zebra Longwing
I got a treat this past week when I saw the wide, lazy flapping of long black and yellow wings. A Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) butterfly was making the rounds near my passionvine. I’ve only been graced with this beauty of a butterfly on one prior occasion and it was only a fly-through. Hard freezes in recent years have relegated our state butterfly back further south, but I was assured by butterfly expert Jaret C. Daniels of the Florida Museum of Natural History that it was just a matter of time before this beauty made a comeback in our area. He came and spoke to our chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society several months back.
It has been worth the wait!
This larval host planted in shade will attract the Longwings
There is a trick to attracting this butterfly. While having passionvine available as the host plant, it needs a further step. This butterfly will not lay eggs on passionvine that is in the sun. It needs shade. After a couple of years of meandering around my property with a mind of its own, my Passiflora incarnata has snaked it’s way behind the shed and now is creeping up the tiedown on the west side of the shed. It is sheltered enough from the sun to FINALLY get one of these beautiful butterflies to lay some eggs.
The Zebra Longwing is the state butterfly of Florida. Not every state has a designated butterfly, but many do. There are a few interesting things about this particular species. They are the only butterflies that eat pollen. The butterflies themselves will gather in groups to rest much like the monarchs do when they return to Mexico . I patiently await the emergence of many so I can witness this phenomenon.
clusters of eggs on new leaf growth
They lay clusters of eggs on fresh new leaf growth. Early instars of the caterpillars resemble the gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) larvae, which also use passionvine as a larval host. However, rather than the brash orange of the frits, the orange of the Longwings cats is just a slightly milkier white in color. Later instars will be the recognizable black and white.
early instar caterpillar can be mistaken for gulf fritillary larvae
Sometimes it just takes patience to attract wildlife to your garden. Research what is required to attract the particular species you are interested in. Keep in mind that you need to determine if they are compatible with your conditions. Do they belong in your area? Do you have the correct plants? Are those plants situated in proper conditions such as sun or shade?
Laying eggs….hopefully long into the future
I’ve waited 5 years while the P. incarnata set into the correct conditions to attract those that have added to my species life list this week. If you plant it right, they will come.
© 2012, Loret T. Setters. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Loret T. Setters
Hi Loret, We haven’t had any zebra longwings for a couple of years. I do hope they return soon–I am glad to see yours, though. We have plenty of gulf fritillaries, though. Thanks as always for the beautiful photos.
Ginny Stibolt recently posted..Maypop, a native butterfly & bee magnet
How excellent that your patience paid off…I am patiently awaiting monarch eggs….gorgeous butterfly!
Donna Donabella recently posted..Harvest Day in July 2012
Congratulations! Loret, your patience in your wildlife garden is amazing. Glad you were able to photograph the eggs of this pretty butterfly. Thanks for the always-great photos. “designated butterfly” is a neat link showing folks which butterfly is their State Butterfly. CA is the “Dogfaced Butterfly” with very interesting markings. I encourage folks to look up theirs.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..California’s White Sage of the Chaparral
Well the long-wing is certainly aptly named, what huge wings! Congratulations on the return of this beautiful creature and thanks for the gorgeous pictures.
Ellen Honeycutt recently posted..Azaleas in the Sky – Gregory Bald