Julia Butterfly (Dryas Iulia) Stock Photo

Habitat: In and along the edges of tropical hardwood hammocks Wingspan: 3.0 - 3.5 Range: South Texas, South Florida and the Florida Keys Larval Host Plants: Various passion flower vines (Passiflora spp.) Favorite Adult Nectar Sources: firebush (Hamelia patens), lantana (Lantana camera), porterweed (Stachytarpheta spp.), and Spanish needles (Bidens alba) The Julia is an elegant butterfly, easily recognized by its long, narrow bright orange wings. This is a tropical species, found only in the extreme southern portions of the Gulf Coast states. Males are almost pure orange with just a few black patches on the tips of the forewings, and a thin hind wing border. Females are somewhat paler and have more black markings on the forewings. The Julia is a quick and agile flier and seldom strays far from tropical woodlands.