North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Arkansas

Julia (Dryas julia)
JPG -- species photo

Julia (Dryas julia Fabricius)

Wing span: 3 1/4 - 3 5/8 inches (8.2 - 9.2 cm).

Identification: Forewings elongate. Male bright orange above and below; upperside of hindwing with narrow black border on outer margin. Female duller orange, with more black markings above.

Life history: Males patrol all day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new growth; caterpillars feed on leaves. Adults forage along a set route of nectar sources each day in a behavior known as "trap-lining".

Flight: Throughout the year in southern Florida and South Texas, strays to the north in summer.

Caterpillar hosts: Passion-vines including Passiflora lutea in Texas.

Adult food: Nectar from flowers including lantana and shepherd's needle; probably others.

Habitat: Subtropical hammock openings and edges, and nearby fields.

Range: Resident in Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, West Indies, peninsular Florida, and South Texas. Strays north to eastern Nebraska.

Conservation: Not usually required, but habitat in South Texas is limited.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns 
     Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 
     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 
     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.
     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Julia (Dryas julia)
distribution map
map legend

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