Butterflies at Home



Zebra Heliconian Butterfly

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly Characteristics

The Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) is a medium sized butterfly, with elongated black wings with bold white stripes. It ranges from through parts of the Southern U.S., from Arizona through Texas and Oklahoma to Florida. It also found from Mexico to Ecuador and some of the Caribbean islands. The Zebra inhabits woodland clearings and moist wood edges.

It is also known as the Zebra Longwing butterfly.

Wing spread: 3.0" - 3.5"

Host Plants: Passion flowers

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly Life Cycle Stages and Times

Stage Typical Duration
Egg stage 4 to 8 days
Caterpillar (larval) stage 2 to 3 weeks
Chrysalis (pupal) stage 5 to 10 days
Adult butterfly stage 1 to 5 months

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly Photographs

Zebra Heliconian at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center in San Antonio, Texas on October 22, 2016.
Zebra Heliconian Butterfly in Texas
Photo by and courtesy of David B. Sweidel

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly feeding on Lantana near Tyler in East Texas
Zebra Heliconian Butterfly in Texas

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly (dorsal view)
Zebra Heliconian Butterfly with wings open

Zebra Heliconian Butterfly (ventral view)
Zebra Heliconian Butterfly with wings open