Zebra Longwing - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Butterfly: Wingspan: 3 - 3½ inches (7.4 - 8.9 cm) UPPER SURFACE (dorsal) Black with yellow stripes; yellow spot band near hindwing edge UNDER SUFACE (ventral) Dark with yellow stripes; yellow spot band nea indwing edge; red dots near body. Forewings very elongated.

ID Tip: Black and yellow stripes on very elongated forewings

Egg: Yellow, ribbed, and elongated. Generally laid in small clusters on new growth and tendrils of host plant.

Caterpillar: White with small black spots and many long black spines

Chrysalis: Two projections that look like jaws extend from head. The slender, golden brown chrysalis is adorned with a few silver markings as well as short dark bristles.

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Zebra Longwings should be sought in Alabama’s southern counties, particularly near forest edges that support Yellow Passion Flower vines. The butterflies typically flit slowly through dappled shade. In years without hard freezes, populations may remain intact for a few months, but generally these butterflies must expand into Alabama from Florida.

Males may surround chrysalides of females in order to be the first to mate. Sometimes they actually break the chrysalis in their zeal to reach the emerging female butterfly.

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

20 - Baldwin - 8/21/2020
20 - Geneva - 11/4/2020
17 - Baldwin - 8/22/2016

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
							1	1										1	1			2			4	6	16	7	8	31	45	14	10	23	18	21	30	21	38	58	24	3	24	5	3	1	1

Woodlands near the coast.

Various passion flowers (Passiflora spp.) are used throughout the range.

The follwing have been documented in Alabama:

Corky Stem Passion Flower (Passiflora suberosa) ornamental; native to central and south Florida

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

In Alabama's southern-most counties, including passion flower vines in the landscape may provide caterpillar food for Zebra Longwings. These vines need support, such as an arbor. Alternatively, they may be allowed to clamor up a tree. Like Zebra Longwings, Yellow Passion Flower prefers somewhat shady spots. The small, yellow flowers occur near the top, where the vine reaches sunlight.

Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia) Photos

Click on individual photos to view a larger version that includes photo credits, county, and date.
Photos with comments are indicated by a small, tan dot on the bottom right.