METAMORPHOSIS: The Life Cycle of the Zebra Butterfly Odyssey Earth 13.5K subscribers Subscribe 133 6K views 2 years ago Metamorphosis: crazy weird, crazy amazing. 1-4 Zebra Longwing Butterfly Eggs $2.00 Ea. They eat pollen to aid in the creation of a chemical that . It was a pretty solid pick by our solons for any number of reasons. Zebra Longwing Butterfly Their name is based on their striped pattern like Zebras, long black wings but narrow with thin yellow bands, and each one has a distinctive pattern. With this type of mating there is no sexual selection present. Despite the fact that the butterfly is one of the most common in the state of Florida, these details of its reproductive biology have been described only recently by the Florida Museums scientist, Dr. Andrei Sourakov. Range Peru to Southern United States Habitat Warm damp tropical areas Diet Nectar On Exhibit This year and last, late summer is crazy time for monarchs in my yard. Cech R, Tudor G. Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer's Guide. Their lifecycle can be a much talked about and a very exciting occurrence. Zebra Longwing . Queen Ants Make Distinctive Sounds That Are Mimicked by a Butterfly Social Parasite. Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)Species:Heliconius charithonia. A taste for pollen is rare in the butterfly world - most species rely on sugar-laden nectar or fruit to provide the energy they need. The additional nutrients from the pollen enable individuals to survive for several months, far exceeding the normal two to four week adult life span of most other butterflies. Zebra Longwings are found from Peru in South America and as far north as Texas and Florida. Butterflies start life as caterpillars, which are far from harmless if youre a tasty plant, and can be carnivorous. Mating happens for several hours, and the female emerges during this process to expand her wings. ), The strange and dangerous love lives of zebra longwing butterflies. 1965. The period between molts is called an instar. I give as much space as I can afford to native plants, whether I buy them, grow them from seed, or they grow as weeds. Butterfly identification. Their black wings have yellow stripes colors that advertise they, too, are distasteful to predators. I could tend to deadlines for grant funded projects, or I could set up a camera and wait for a female to eclose, filming the males fighting for her as she entered the world as a butterfly. The . Zebra longwings rest together on their favorite branch. Since the female is trapped in the chrysalis and has no choice in the matter, the term pupal rape came about, though some biologists refer to it more charitably as forced copulation or simply pupal mating. Ive seen people get discouraged because they dont see many caterpillars make it to adulthood in their yards. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. Back to those zebra longwing adults hanging out under beautyberry and Bidens alba leaves. You're sure to see some on your next visit to Butterflies & Blooms. Were the ones cluttered with males safer from this assassin than the others? The zebra longwing butterfly or zebra heliconian, Heliconius charithonia, is unmistakable with its long narrow wings, which are striped black and pale yellow. 1991. The upper surface of the wings is black with several bold, narrow yellow stripes. [20], Heliconius has evolved two forms of mating. Zebra butterflies enjoy a protein-rich diet Doug Schnurr/Shutterstock.com The bold coloration on the wings is an adaptation termed as aposematic, i.e., a warning signal to the predators to stay away. The H. heurippa likely had a genetic attraction for other hybrids, leading to its reproductive isolation and speciation. I was interviewing The Nature Conservancys Brian Pelc about sandhill restoration, they were declared internationally endangered. All rights reserved. 2005. But they sure do start mating a lot on and around the plants. Adult zebra longwing butterfly, Heliconius charithonia (Linnaeus), with ventral view of the wings. Lamas, G (Ed), 2004. 782-785. When a colour was eliminated, the butterfly was less successful in attracting mates and therefore did not reproduce as much as its counterparts[19], In order to attract mates female Heliconius secrete pheromones from a yellow like sac that they secrete the scent to appear more attractive to the males. The butterfly drinks the nectar of a wide range of flowers. Research has found that the amino acids needed to make the cyanic compounds come from feeding on pollen. [22], Heliconius female butterflies also disperse their eggs much more slowly than other species of butterflies. Expert Luke Brown, who manages the house, says, 'The zebra butterfly has always been my favourite, because it is the first tropical butterfly I bred when I was about eight. I feel like Ive seen more death in my yard this year than in other years, but thats because theres so much more life in my yard than in other years. This type of mimicry typically results in convergent evolution, whereby many (sometimes unrelated) species become protected by similar patterns or coloration. They cannot be confused with any other Florida butterfly. What are they good for! Right now, though, I can reflect. The zebra longwing butterfly feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers, including: passionflower, red clover, thistle, and milkweed. : Source geographic distribution data for the species, "Testing historical explanations for gradients in species richness in heliconiine butterflies of tropical America", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heliconius&oldid=1136198424, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 05:56. Butterflies tend to seek out vibrant colored flowers. Figure 3. Their toxic nature comes from chemicals called cyanogenic glycosides that taste bitter, and if ingested, are bad for one's health. Medley JC, Fasulo TR. Zebra Longwing is the only representative of this genus in the United States and is a fascinating model for education and research. Eggs of the zebra longwing butterfly, Heliconius charithonia (Linnaeus), on maypop (purple passionflower), Passiflora incarnata L. (Passifloraceae). Zebra longwing butterflies and this passion vine both prefer shady spots. Other fritillary larvae (meadow and great spangled) feed on wild violets. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. At night, these creatures roost communally in small to big groups of up to 60 adults to ensure safety from predators. Butterflies invented the ultimate babysitting con. This added. The winner of this tussle mates with the female, but hes often so eager to do so that he uses his sharp claspers to rip into the chrysalis and mate with her before she even emerges. Did they smell the little bit of the female still stuck to him? The stages a caterpillar handles while increasing are called instars. These spikes are harmless to humans, but deter predators like birds. . When I crouched down to take a look, I started learning a few new things about butterfly mating behavior. Zebra longwings are one of few butterflies that can break down and digest pollen - which is great news, as it's actually a source of protein they otherwise wouldn't find in nectar alone. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Ive planted milkweed for years, and seen dozens of their caterpillars grow and metamorphose into adulthood. In this way multiple, often unrelated species, effectively cooperate with one another to educate their mutual predators. Feel free to download the Pictures under 6 Zebra Longwing Butterfly Predators information for free. Nadeau, N., Martin, S., Kozak, K., Salazar, C., Dasmahapatra, K., Davey, J., Baxter, S., Blaxter, M., Mallet, J., Jiggins C. 2012. Butterflies have had us fooled for centuries. by Jonnie Dietz,Florida Museum of Natural History. Monarch Butterfly Eggs (Danaus plexippus) $2.00. @2017 - PenciDesign. Check out this video for more information about Zebra longwing butterflies! While feeding on nectar, a longwing collects globs of sticky pollen on itsproboscis. Like they did in September of last year, they mated, and mated some more, and the resulting caterpillars ate our milkweed plants down to their stems. Well, not entirely free: As the male flew away from the dog fennel, other butterflies began to pursue him. Privacy Policy. [12], Assortive mating reproductively isolates H. heurippa from its parental species. Figure 5. Ive never seen such a volume of butterfly caterpillars at a time (moths yes, but not butterflies). Photograph by Jaret C. Daniels, University of Florida. Eggs: The yellow eggs are laid singly or in small clusters on new growth of the host plant. Throughout Central and South America, as well as southern Texas and peninsular Florida in the United States; migrates further north during summer, They live in moist forests, tropical hammocks, edges, and fields, Pollen and flower nectar from mostly passionflowers. I planted passionflower in part because zebra longwings have not always been common in my yard. Dino Martins. After each instar it undergoes some kind of physical transformation. Larvae of both species feed on passionflower vines. Their elongated wings make them easy to distinguish from other Florida natives, but their unique attributes dont stop there. The nymphs hang in their cocoon in such a way that they perfectly resemble dry, yellow leaves hanging from the branches. The Biology of Butterflies. The zebra longwing lavae eat the leaves of passion flowers. Andthats hardly shocking compared with its propensity for something called pupal rape. Learn more about these butterflies here. All rights reserved. Im not talking about your vegetable garden, though I largely take the same approach there. During Beta The fuzzy foliage and stems are utilized by Gulf Fritillary but are not considered safe for Zebra Longwings and possibly other species of Heliconian butterfly caterpillars. These are monomorphic butterflies, of medium size, and has a relatively longer life cycle. Adults exhibit bright wing color patterns which signal their distastefulness to potential predators. The pipevine swallowtail is one of the most poisonous butterflies in existence, due to its consumption of the toxic pipevine. I let leaves lie in the winter, and I try to leave bare patches of soil for ground nesting insects such as bees. In the winter, there are fewer predators. 2 / AprilJune 2004; pp. Privacy notice. Just like the Red Lacewings caterpillars, the caterpillars . By the time she finally emerges, multiple males may have gathered on her chrysalis. As the larva grows, it sheds its exoskeleton (this is called molting). Color and Appearance: The hind wings are very narrow that have given them a sleek look. The caterpillar eats almost continually until it pupates. Please be respectful of copyright. The greedy zebra butterfly's protein-rich diet of pollen is fuelling its remarkably long lifespan. Adults: Zebra longwings are medium-sized butterflies with elongated wings. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); If you are really interested in butterflies, please subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates about all the different species, right in your inbox. Julia Butterfly Eggs (Dryas iulia) $1.75. [23] While Heliconius larvae feed on Passifloraceae which also have cyanic characteristics, the larvae have evolved the ability to neutralize cyanic molecules to protect them from the negative effects of the plant. We use them to improve our website and content, and to tailor our digital advertising on third-party platforms. 363 pp. 2103. The thing is, youve created a space for them that otherwise wouldnt exist in an urban/ suburban setting. But butterflies have a dark side. For the most part, they fed on the many flowers that bloomed in the late summer. From the nineteenth century to the present day, their study has helped scientists to understand how new species are formed and why nature is so diverse. Pheromones are vital when it comes to mate choice it determines the more likely chance that there will be a success in mating between the Heliconius. As caterpillars, they eat the leaves which contain a toxin that gives the zebra longwing an unpleasant taste and makes it poisonous to predators. I had a choice to make. Thats right; dont get between a butterfly and a freshly dropped pile of dung. Zebra Longwing butterflies collect pollen on their proboscis. There is also a row of white dots on the base of the . Orlando web design services for Non-profits by Afteractive, Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) by Stacey Matrazzo, White-flowered Multiflower or Keys passionflower (, www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/100years/zebra-longwing/, Orlando web design services for Non-profits. A butterfly's taste buds are on their feet! Butterfly: Wingspan: 3 - 3 inches (7.4 - 8.9 cm). 2009. There is an reproductive isolation between populations so while mates are attracted by pheromones they still will choose to similar patterned winged Heliconius. Females lay the small yellow eggs singly or in small clusters on terminal leaves and trendrils of the host plants. Gulf fritillary butterfly on lantana flower. You must be over the age of 13. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs, Small grass yellow butterflies feed on fresh elephant dung in Kenyas Tsavo West National Park. That would be the male. We see up years and we see down years, but we cant get hung up on how many caterpillars we see make it or not make it in a given year. Once you know that a pupa is the butterfly in its chrysalisin between being a larva and an adultthen pupal rape is pretty much what it sounds like. In Mllerian mimicry all species of the set have honest warnings, but the similarity between members of a set allows a single encounter between a predator and one member of the set to deter that predator in all future encounters with all members of the set. Their bright colors and fluttering journey makes them a straightforward favourite. [8] It has been proposed that two closely related species, H. cydno and H. melpomene, hybridized to create the species H. heurippa. . CH12319), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE HERE. Our state butterfly, Zebra Longwing, or Zebra Heliconian, is named for its striped wing pattern. Florida Museum of Natural History Home| Copyright Florida Museum, Zebra Longwing by Andrei Sourakov (read by Amy Hester), https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2017/08/lepidoptera-zebra-longwing.mp3. It doesnt have to be dung, although thats always nice; you may see flocks of butterflies having a nip of a dead animal (as depicted in this diorama of butterflies eating a piranha), drinking sweat or tears, or just enjoying a plain old mud puddle. Zebra butterflies have long memories, and are able to remember where food sources are, returning to where they have fed previously. These butterflies eat passion flower vines in the caterpillar stage which makes them toxic for the rest of their lives. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a site that gave me a little jolt: A few weeks after they were declared internationally endangered, here a monarch butterfly has met its end in my yard. They are found throughout the state. The passion flower contains a toxin that gives the zebra longwing an unpleasant taste and makes it poisonous to predators. Heliconius butterflies such as Heliconius numata are famous practitioners of Mllerian mimicry, and benefit from mimicking other unpalatable species of butterfly in their local habitat, such as Melinaea. This spiky caterpillar gorges on varieties of passionflower. Looking up close at pictures of the butterflies, you will notice that some of the stripes can be yellow. Zebra longwingchrysalidesresemble a dead leaf and are not easy to spot unless youre a male longwing looking for love. I had never seen this kind of thing before. #6. Butterflies 1: Butterflies of the Southeast. Florida State Butterfly- Zebra Longwing. The most common thing for an adult butterfly to eat will be sweet nectar. Red Lacewing . How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. The zebra longwing butterfly lives in warm, damp tropical areas. When does spring start? The adult butterflies are unusual in feeding on pollen as well as on nectar; the pollen enables them to synthesize cyanogenic glycosides that make their bodies toxic to potential predators. The passion flower contains a toxin that gives the zebra longwing an unpleasant taste and makes it poisonous to predators. In that case, the distribution of Zebra Longwings in the state may contract to just South Florida, and it takes several years for the species to repopulate the northern part of the state, including Gainesville. They uncoil their probosces and slurp away, lapping up the salts and amino acids they cant get from plants. Photograph by Jaret C. Daniels, University of Florida. Within a few more moments, she was viciously attacked by a predator. [23], In order to be unpalatable, the Heliconius butterflies use cyanic characteristics, meaning they produce substances that have a cyanide group attached to them, ultimately making them harmful. Someone had recently left a comment on another post, about monarch predators, saying she had seen an assassin bug suck the juices from a monarch chrysalis. It sleeps so . But the zebra butterfly has been spotted returning to the same plants day after day to eat pollen. But it all starts with insects. This begins way before mating happens. Photo byAdam Skowronski. Photograph by Dino Martins, Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Below is the iNaturalist profile belonging to WFSU Ecology producer Rob Diaz de Villegas. A Zebra Longwing Butterfly is a herbivore; Meaning that as a caterpillar its first food is its own eggshell and than it will eat the leaves of the plant on which it is hatched. Ive written a bit about caterpillars meeting their ends in my yard. This genus is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the New World, from South America as far north as the southern United States. The sexes are similar. These animals can sniff it out. Unlike most other butterflies, male Zebra Longwings mate with a female before the female has a chance to emerge from its chrysalis. The Zebra Longwing caterpillar ( Heliconius charithonia) is identified by its long black spikes protruding from its grayish-green body. Genome-wide patterns of divergence and gene flow across a butterfly radiation. The cracker butterfly makes sounds! The Red Lacewing . sugary and sweet! Like other butterfly larval food plants, it will rebound and leaf out again. The upper surface of the wings is black with several bold, narrow yellow stripes. No link available. Florida Butterfly Tutorials. The occurrence of the cyanoglucosides linamarin and lotaustralin, in. Perhaps because of their spikey appearance, zebra longwing caterpillars hang out in the open, in large numbers. This coloration is a warning to predators that the butterfly is toxic. As the black and white Zebra Longwing butterfly, the Zebra Longwing caterpillar has a white body with . These communal colonies can range from a few individuals to 30 butterflies or more. They found that color was more vivid on the dorsal side of the butterflies than on the ventral. Joe Pye Weed - Another butterfly favorite, joe pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) has large, round heads of vanilla-scented, rosy pink flowers that bloom in late summer, attracting butterflies by the gazillions. Brought to the forefront of scientific attention by Victorian naturalists, these butterflies exhibit a striking diversity and mimicry, both amongst themselves and with species in other groups of butterflies and moths. Passion vines, also called passion flowers, have common and botanical names. In Batesian mimics defensive coloration or patterns are a bluff, mimicking those of actually poisonous or foul-tasting species. 2023 (Butterfly Identification). This species is common in Mexico and Central America and it is also found in most of Florida and in some areas of Texas, where it can be seen year round. The wings are black with a white band running laterally and a few diagonal ones on the wings. It must bloom at some peak of their multigenerational northward migration. They are the only butterflies known to eat pollen which is probably why they have a long lifespan of about six months. Well, no, not love. Now he spends time exploring north Florida's forests, coasts, waterways, and the endlessly fascinating ecosystem that is the backyard garden. They cant control everything that happens on stage; the important thing is that there is a stage on which the drama can play itself out.