Zebra Longwing and other Heliconians host on passionvines. Instead of laying their eggs singly on the plant, Zebra Longwing females can be found laying their eggs in groups on the newest growth of the passion vines. The eggs are bright yellow and are generally found in clusters from just a few to several dozen.
The larvae of this species are bright white and with rows of branching black spikes that make it difficult for predators to swallow the caterpillars, although the spikes are harmless to humans. In the first few days, the caterpillars are gregarious, but they quickly break out to feed on their own. Zebra Longwings will consume both leaves and flowers, and Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) and Corky-Stem Passionvine (Passiflora suberosa) seem to be their preferred choices.
The Zebra Longwing chrysalis resemble a curled, dead leaf and have a section of reflective silver spots on their pupae which mimics water droplets caught on a stationary object. These chrysalids move in response to stimuli, sometimes twitching violently to fight off possible predators.
The adult butterfly is a member of the Nymphalidae or brush-footed butterfly family and only appear to have 4 legs. The front two legs are very tiny and are located near the butterfly’s head. Their long wings are typical of the Heliconius genus, while the black and yellow striping that gives them their name is surprisingly effective at helping the butterfly hide among foliage. The stripes break up the body shape, making it difficult to see, especially in the dappled shade they prefer. Male and female Zebra Longwings are generally indistinguishable from each other, but there is some color variation across the species in general.
Zebra Longwing butterflies, like other Heliconians, have a special adaptation that allows them to live much longer than other butterflies. Most butterflies live entirely on nectar, which is a sugary water substance found inside flowers. This nectar is the nutritional equivalent of a human attempting to subsist on on sugary soda; although it is high in calories to power the butterfly through its short life-cycle, it is low in nutrients, and most butterflies live only a few weeks.
Zebra Longwing butterflies collect pollen on the outside of their proboscis (shown above - note the yellow powder collected on the coiled proboscis), and excrete stomach acids through the proboscis onto the gathered pollen. After the process of external digestion is complete, the Zebra Longwing drinks down the liquefied pollen which is rich in nutrients. This special diet allows the Zebra Longwing butterfly to live a whopping six to nine months as an adult butterfly!
How can you tell male from fe males?
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