Zebra Longwing

The Zebra Longwing is a member of the longwing subfamily Heliconiinae within Nymphalidae, and is the state butterfly of Florida. Its long, narrow black wings marked with bold yellow stripes make it one of the most recognizable butterflies in the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and much of tropical South America.

The species is scientifically notable for a rare behavior among butterflies: adults actively collect and feed on pollen in addition to nectar, extracting amino acids from the pollen grains that significantly extend adult lifespan compared to most other butterfly species, allowing individuals to live for several months rather than just a few weeks.

Zebra Longwings are also known for communal roosting, in which groups of individuals gather each evening at the same perch site over consecutive nights, a behavior thought to offer protection from predators and is a striking sight in gardens where the species is established.

• Wings are long, narrow, and elongated, black or very dark brown as a base color, boldly striped with pale yellow bands running across both wings.
• Flight is notably slow and fluttery compared to most other butterflies, often close to vegetation.
• Body is elongated and slender relative to wing length, typical of the longwing group.
• Distinguished from other longwings such as the Julia Butterfly (solid orange) and Gulf Fritillary (orange with silver-spangled underside) by its unmistakable black-and-yellow striped pattern.

Found from the southern United States (especially Florida and Texas) through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of tropical South America, generally in frost-free or near-frost-free climates.

Adults favor shaded tropical hammocks, forest edges, and gardens planted with passionflower vines and nectar sources, and are active year-round in its resident range, often flying in the dappled light of forest understory.

Adults feed on both nectar and pollen, actively gathering pollen grains onto their proboscis and dissolving them into an amino-acid-rich mixture that extends adult lifespan well beyond that of most butterflies. Caterpillars feed exclusively on passionflower vines, sequestering toxic compounds that carry through to the adult stage and are believed to make adults distasteful to predators.

The species is known for gregarious overnight roosting, in which multiple individuals return to the same perch site on successive evenings, a behavior thought to reduce individual predation risk. Its slow, fluttering flight and dark coloration are considered part of a broader unpalatability warning display shared among Heliconius species.

Females lay small yellow eggs, often in small clusters, on the growing tips and tendrils of passionflower vines. Caterpillars are white with black spots and branching spines, feeding on Passiflora foliage through several instars.

The chrysalis is brown, angular, and spiky, resembling a dead leaf or twig, suspended by a silk girdle from the host plant. The species breeds continuously in frost-free areas with overlapping generations year-round through complete metamorphosis, and does not have a true overwintering diapause in its resident range.