THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

80 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
voracious, and one individual can consume
an entire banana leaf more than 3 feet long!
Common name derived from the large
“eyespots” on the underside of wings, thought
to be deterrents to bird predators.
Julia Longwing
Dryas julia (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Resident in Brazil north through
Central America, Mexico, West Indies,
peninsular Florida, and South Texas. Strays
as far north as eastern Nebraska.
Habitat: Subtropical forest openings and
edges, and nearby fields.
Appearance: Elongate forewings, thus the
common name Males bright orange above
and below; upperside of hindwing has narrow
black border on outer margin. Female duller,
with more black markings above.
Diet: Caterpillars feed on passion vines; adults
on nectar from flowers.
Reproduction: Like all species in the subfamily
Heliconiinae, also known as heliconians or
longwings, adults lay eggs only on select host
plants of the genus Passiflora, commonly called
passion vines or passion flowers. D. julia eggs
are laid singly on new growth; caterpillars feed
on leaves. Larvae of heliconians
Remarks: The Julia, like many other
butterflies in the rainforest exhibit, belongs
to the Longwing or Heliconian subfamily
(Heliconiinae).
Isabella’s Longwing
Eueides isabella (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Widely distributed in Central
America and throughout northern South
America south through Brazil. Occasional
migrant to southern U.S., especially Texas.
Habitat: Occur from sea level to 1,500 m in
tropical forests.
Appearance: Upper wing: outer half of forewing
black with yellow areas, area close to body
orange with a black stripe. Hindwing orange
with 2 black stripes. Underwing similar.
Diet: Caterpillars: host passion vine leaves;
adults: nectar and pollen.
Reproduction and Development: Males mate
with receptive females, which may breed
more than once. Not a pupal mater. (See Zebra
Longwing). Eggs laid singly on underside of
host plant.
Mortality/Longevity: Like all Heliconians,
they are long-lived
Remarks: Adults roost alone on underside of
leaves.
Zebra Longwing
Heliconius charithonia (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Tropics and subtropics of Central
and South America. Also West Indies, Mexico,
southern Texas, Florida, and occasionally
as far west as New Mexico and north to the
Carolinas.
Habitat: Moist forests, edges, and fields.
Appearance: Long, narrow wings patterned
with black and yellow stripes.
Diet: Adults feed on flower nectar and pollen.
Larvae feed almost exclusively on the leaves
of a few host species of passion flowers (genus
Passiflora).
Reproduction and Development: Almost half
of the Heliconian species, including the Zebra
Longwing, practice a unique mating behavior
known as pupal mating. The male seeks out
larval host plants to find female pupae of its
species, and may fend off other males from one
or more pupae for up to a week before the female
butterfly emerges. Mating takes place before the
female is fully hardened. With the exception
of one other species, Heliconians are the only
butterflies known to practice this behavior.
Mortality/Longevity: From 3–6 months (sources
vary). Taken by birds and larger insects.
Remarks: Declared the Florida State Butterfly
in 1996.
Species name refers to the Charities, or Graces,
of Greek mythology, known as the epitome of
charm and natural beauty.
The Zebra Longwing, because of its striking
pattern and long life, is a favorite species for
butterfly exhibits.
This species also practices communal roosting
Doris Longwing
Heliconius doris (Nymphalidae)
Brush-footed Butterflies
Distribution: Central America to northwestern
Amazonia.