JULIA BUTTERFLY (Back) (Details)

Julia Butterfly (Top)

Dryas iulia (range: south Florida and south Texas)

Unlimited:

8" x 12" (14" x 18" paper size) ($29)
12" x 18" (18" x 24" paper size) ($49)
 

The Julia butterfly (Dryas iulia) is a bright orange-red butterfly that is a resident of Brazil north through Central America (e.g. prevalent in Costa

Rica), Mexico, the West Indies and up into the Southern United States, as far north as central Florida and Southern Texas.  Occasionally they stray north as far as the Central plains area.  The Julia is also sometimes called the Orange Longwing.  This species ranges in size from 3 to 3 ¾ inches in size (about 7 – 9 cm).

Julias fly fast on their long, narrow wings, with a “dragonfly-like” fluttering flight much like other members of the subfamily Heliconiiae.   Males are more brightly colored than the females, which have more black markings on their forewings (females have a larger rim of black, whereas the males are almost completely orange).  The butterflies like to lay their eggs singly on new growth, in the shade, especially on Passion flowers including Passiflora lutea, and when they appear, Julia caterpillars are black with white spots.  The Julia has several generations each year, but is most abundant from about August through October.  Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers including lantana and shepherd’s needle and others, establishing a “trap line” that they feed on consistently each day.  Look for them near the edges of fields (by forested areas).

The genus name (Dryas) comes from Greek mythology, where the Dryads were beautiful tree nymphs.