| The Zebra Longwing, also known as the Zebra | | | | eat pollen which is rich in protein. If denied pollen, their |
| Heliconian, was declared the official butterfly of my | | | | life span is greatly decreased. Zebras feed off of a |
| home state Florida in 1996. These beautiful and unique | | | | variety of plants. I noticed my group feeds off many, |
| little creatures, actually insects, with long narrow black | | | | including the lantana, porterweed, mexican sunflower, |
| wings and yellow zebra-like stripes (purposely | | | | powder puff, milkweed and candy corn but the one |
| designed by nature to help avoid and warn off | | | | they seem to enjoy the most is the red penta. |
| predators) live throughout Florida and are plentiful on | | | | During the daytime hours the Zebras will fly slowly and |
| my land in the North Central section. You can also find | | | | gracefully, almost as floating, through the air instead of |
| Zebras in warm and damp tropical areas of Texas, | | | | fast and fluttery like other butterflies; however, they |
| Mexico, Central America and South America. | | | | can pick up speed when threatened. The Zebra |
| Certain passion vines are the host plant for the Zebra | | | | Longwing is less fearful of predators, not only because |
| Longwing; it is the only plant the larvae will eat. A corky | | | | of their warning colors, but because of their foul taste. |
| stemmed passion vine is a favorite of theirs which | | | | Passion vines, consumed by the larvae, contain a toxin |
| grows wild in Florida, classified as a weed. Eggs are | | | | that makes adult Zebras poisonous to predators. Once |
| laid in groups of 5-15 on leaves of the host plant. The | | | | a predator experiences such a taste they will never |
| larvae will hang in a "J" position waiting to form a | | | | forget. |
| chrysalis. In about 10 to 14 days the adult emerges. No | | | | Another unusual feature of Zebra Longwings is that |
| time is wasted with this life cycle for an eager male | | | | adults roost in groups of up to 70 at night. The Zebras |
| will mate with a female as she is about to emerge | | | | on my land will huddle together (about 18-20) on a |
| from the chrysalis. The Zebra Longwing can go from | | | | strand of moss hanging from an oak tree near one of |
| egg to butterfly in a little over three weeks. | | | | my gardens. Each night they return to the same spot |
| Zebra Longwings live a longer life than most butterflies, | | | | and on cold and gloomy days they will remain there. |
| up to 6 months compared to a week or two. Experts | | | | Although Zebras are commonly in flight all year in |
| believe this is because of their diet. Not only do Zebras | | | | South Florida, I have seen a few survive on my land |
| feed on nectar, they are the only known butterflies to | | | | during the cold winter months. |