Atala Butterflies

[sur4z]

Brilliantly colored Florida native Atala caterpillars, once nearly extinct, are thriving at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, where their host plant, the Coontie, has made a comeback thanks to conservation

efforts. For a limited time, viewers can see them before the Gardens close for the month of August.

Where would the Atala be without the Coontie plant? Extinct.

In fact, the Atala butterfly, a Florida native whose dazzling colors rival those of coral reef fish, almost disappeared from the wild, all because the tiny insect's host plant, the Coontie, was itself virtually wiped out. Now, both the Atala and the Coontie are making a comeback. Atalas have reappeared in small numbers on Florida's east coast, and are at home now at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens which has plenty of Coontie to attract the caterpillar.

ATALA BUTTERFLY FACTS:

1. Scientific name: Eumaeus Atala
2. Common names: Atala, Atala Hairstreak, Coontie Hairstreak
3. Range: Has been reported from Dade County north to Martin County. There are unconfirmed reports of Atala in Collier and Hillsborough counties.
4. Size: Larvae (caterpillars) reach 1.25 inches; adults have wingspan of 1.5 inches.
5. Status: Listed as C2, which means it is a candidate for federal protection. Recommendations for state protection have been proposed but never acted upon.
6. Some nectar plants for Atala: Saw-toothed palmetto, cabbage palm, avocado, Florida powder puff, butterfly bush, white indigo berry

[DoomsDave]

Wow! Those are stunning.

Hmm. Does their food plant make them bad-tasting? Or do they look like something that's bad tasting? I hope so.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I don't know if they taste bad. I never tried to eat one.

These things will just about strip a coontie bare. I was happy that some adults found ours in the Arboretum and have started a mini colony. We have dozens and dozens of caterpillars and cocoons on the coonties now. The adults are not large but are very pretty.

[DoomsDave]

Zamias have a bad taste that ends up in the caterpillars.

Losing a few leaves won't hurt a cycad.

What other cool butterflies have you guys found?

Schaus' Swallowtail, maybe?

[sur4z]

Here is a link to south florida buterflies/caterpillars and their food plants:

http://www.nababutterfly.com/guide_southflorida_tree_shrub.html

[Eric in Orlando]

Its such a beautiful butterfly and larva.

Years ago I brought a couple hundred larvae back up here. I used to have a huge well established butterfly garden at my old house. I planted a bunch of old coontie I rescued from a house that was being torn down. I had butterflies and larvae for almost 2 years then they disappeared.