Zebra Longwing Butterfly In Flight (Heliconius charitonia)

            Backyard
Southwestern Florida
USA

Click on image to enlarge.
 
Photographed in my backyard with its wings down. My first attempt at capturing a butterfly mid flight. An image of one I photographed in my backyard on a butterfly bush can be seen in the first comment section. 
 
The zebra longwing, Heliconius charitonia (Linnaeus), was designated the state butterfly of Florida in 1996. A denizen of more forested settings, it frequents subtropical hammocks, forest margins, shrubby thickets, and adjacent open areas. It is a regular sight in many butterfly gardens and suburban yards and parks.

The zebra longwing is a neotropical butterfly that occurs in extreme southern portions of the United States southward through Mexico, Central America and the West Indies to South America. Adults occasionally wander northward. It is locally common throughout peninsular Florida.

The zebra longwing produces multiple generations each year. Adults may be found in all months of the year throughout much of central and southern portions of Florida. Adults have slow, relaxed flight. Females lay the small yellow eggs singly or in small clusters on terminal leaves and trendrils of the host plants. 

Adult zebra longwing butterflies feed on both flower nectar and pollen. The additional nutrients from the pollen enable individuals to survive for several months, far exceeding the normal two to four week adult life span of most other butterflies. Adult individuals often form small communal roosts at night. 

Common hosts are purple passionflower, Passiflora incarnata L.; corkystem passionflower, Passiflora suberosa L.; yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea L.; and several other passionflower vines.

Taken in: United States / Florida / Golden Gate (show map)

Taken on: September 3, 2019

Tags:

Backyard

Southwestern Florida

Zebra Longwing

Heliconius charitonia

Florida’s State Butterfly

Forested Settings

subtropical hammocks

forest margins

shrubby thickets

adjacent open areas

butterfly gardens

suburban yards

parks

neotropical

Mexico

Central America

West Indies

South America

Multiple Generations

Flower Pollen and Nectar

Sue Roehl

Panasonic

Lumix DMC GH4

100 - 400 mm Lens

Slightly Cropped

COTH

NGC

coth5

NPC « less

Sets appears in: • Near My Home • Insects

Groups appears in: • Wild Animals • wildlife photographers more » • Beauty of Nature • Animal Planet • ***The Wildlife Photography • The Nature Conservancy • South Florida Wetlands( comments optional but nice ) • Wild About Wildlife • Damn! I Wish I'd Taken That!!! (Invite Only) Post 1-Award2 . • Fantastic Wildlife • National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Watch • NatureLovers • NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANIMALS • National Geographic Wild Life • National Wildlife Magazine Photo Group • Colors Of The Heart! *Invited Images Only*! • Nature's Carousel - Closed! • Nature's Golden Carousel ~ Closed! • Animal Central • Wildlife, KEEP IT WILD!!! • National Geographic Society • WILDLIFE & NATURE ONLY ~ No Limits Just Wildlife. • NATURE'S SPIRIT (by invitation) (post 1/award 1) • * Wonderful World of Wildlife * • Worldwide Fauna • US Wildlife • FlickrCentral2 « less

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