How to Identify a Longwing Butterfly

Displaying its beauty over parts of the Caribbean, North America and South America, the Zebra Longwing butterfly, often just called the longwing, gets its name from the unique black-over-yellowish striping of its wings. Known for frequenting the southeastern most states within the United States, the Zebra Longwing butterfly (Heliconius charithonia) was once the official butterfly of the state of Florida. Learn to identify the longwing butterfly by its characteristics and its habitat, and look for them at a suitable gathering spot in your vicinity.

Things You'll Need

• A shaded wood area
• Passionwine plants

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Identify the longwing butterfly by first acknowledging its habitat. The Zebra Longwing butterfly prefers thick wooded areas, often along the edges of a forest that provide a fair amount of shade. They are attracted to the passionvine plant, which they both feed from and deposit their eggs on. Plant several of these vines in a shaded wood area and find that zebra Longwings will immediately be attracted.

   • 2

     Pay special attention to the coloration of the Zebra Longwing. Recognize the butterfly by its remarkable color pattern: jet black with lemon yellow horizontal bands and crimson spotting below. Witness its style of flight in comparison with other butterflies. Identify the Zebra Longwing by its slow, feeble and wafting method of flying. Notice that longwings can dart quickly from predators.

   • 3

     Look for Zebra Longwing butterflies in areas in which they feed. Unlike other types of butterflies, the Zebra Longwing feeds on both nectar and pollen, allowing it to live for up to six months.

   • 4

     Witness Zebra Longwings when they gather at dusk, sometimes in clusters of up to 70 butterflies. Plant a passionvine plant at a wooded edge and witness the longwing in its natural group setting.