Heliconius Charithonus " Zebra Longwing Butterfly" from Eden of Wings Nursery, FL

Wingspan: 3" to 3.5"

Unmistakable. The showy zebra longing is easy to spot leisurely flying from plant to plant. Wings long, narrow, and rounded, both surfaces black with yellow to chartreuse bands. Red patch at base of vow. Flight weak, warty, and ghosty in the dusk. Adults sip nectar from many flowers and eat pollen, too. At night, groups of 20 to 30 individuals will roost within 6 ft. of the ground on trees or shrubs. There are three generation each year.

Larva: You caterpillars are orange and resemble the Gulf Fritillary. Older larvae are white with rows of long black spines and shiny black plates on the body. The head is white with black marking and has a pair of long black spines at the top.

Pupa: The pupa is brown with spines along the front edge of the wing cases. Thornlike spines and silver spots occur on the back. Overall, the pupa resembles a dead leaf. The head has a pair of long leaflike appendages. When viewed from the back these appendages resemble jaws. A pair of silver spots and the antennal cases on the back of the head give the appearance of the eyes, mouth, and jaws of some small, vicious animal.

* If you are looking for Passiflora Suberosa vine, our Nursery Eden of Wings carries this plant year-round. Occasionally we are able to have Passiflora Lutea, but this one can be more difficult to grow from the seed.

What Host plants are good for caterpillars?(Passifloraceae family)

* Passiflora Lutea (yellow passionflower)

* Passiflora Suberosa (corkystem passionflower)