In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state butterfly, the zebra longwing: what it looks like, where it’s found, its life cycle, some fun and unique behaviors, and of course, what each of us can do to help support the zebra longwing butterfly.

Learn More:

• Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charithonia) - https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/zebra_longwing.shtml

• Zebra Longwing - https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/100-years/object/zebra-longwing/

• Zebra longwing - https://www.flawildflowers.org/know-your-native-pollinators-zebra-longwing/

How You Can Help:

• Plant host and nectar/pollen plants (Ex. passionflower vine for eggs/larvae and firebush, tropical sage, Spanish needle and more for the adults) - https://www.flawildflowers.org/know-your-native-pollinators-zebra-longwing/

• Consider creating a butterfly watering station - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/providing-water-to-wildlife/

• Consider purchasing a “State Wildflower” tag (license plate) and support valuable research, the planting and protection of hundred of acres of wildflower pollinator pathways and school wildflower gardens, and overall increased environmental awareness - https://www.flawildflowers.org/wildflower-tag/

Sources:

• Patterns of pollen collection and flower visitation by Heliconius butterflies in southeastern Mexico - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-tropical-ecology/article/abs/patterns-of-pollen-collection-and-flower-visitation-by-heliconius-butterflies-in-southeastern-mexico/3E9698939DC97C3051261F38DBC078D8

• Dynamics of a subtropical population of the zebra longwing butterfly heliconius charithonia (nymphalidae) - https://bioone.org/journals/florida-entomologist/volume-88/issue-2/0015-4040_2005_088_0169_DOASPO_2.0.CO_2/DYNAMICS-OF-A-SUBTROPICAL-POPULATION-OF-THE-ZEBRA-LONGWING-BUTTERFLY/10.1653/0015-4040(2005)088%5b0169:DOASPO%5d2.0.CO;2.full

• State Butterfly: Zebra Longwing - https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-butterfly/