Dryas iulia
Julia longwing or Passion vine butterfly
Range: Southern United States to tropical south America
- These butterflies are known for their erratic flight patterns. In the wild they are often found in the open clearings of forests.
- Julias are in the family Heliconiidae, along with all other species of longwing butterflies. Although they resemble other heliconius species, they have a distinct wing shape and solid orange color that makes them quite easy to identify.
- D. iulia eggs are laid on passion vines. Eating this hostplant during the larval stage will give the butterfly a flavor that is noxious to its predators. Can you think of other butterflies that use this method of defense?
- The Tropical Butterfly House gets Julia butterflies from both central and south America with colors that are very different. Though both are orange, the butterflies from Suriname have a pinkish cast that is almost neon bright!
