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| Atala |
Latin
Name: Eumaeus atala |
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Genus: Eumaeus Species: atala |
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Comments: |
| The boldly colored Atala lacks the hindwing tails characteristic of most hairstreaks. Once abundant throughout southern portions of mainland Florida, commercial harvesting of the butterfly's host plant for starch during the late 1800s severely reduced population numbers. Continued urbanization and the resulting loss of critical costal habitat pushed the species even closer to extinction. By 1965, the Atala had been reduced to a single known colony. However, persistent efforts by conservationists, combined with the rapid growth in popularity of cycads for landscape use, helped the butterfly make a remarkable recovery. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
white, laid in clusters on new growth of host |
Larva: |
white, laid in clusters on new growth of host Larva: bright red with yellow spots along the back |
Host Plants: |
Coontie |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
Coontie |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
hammocks and adjacent areas with host |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
1.6 - 1.9 |
Centimeters: |
4.1 - 4.8 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
similar, although female has metallic blue scaling along costal margin of forewing |
Compare: |
unique |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- male is velvety black with metallic green on forewing, basal area of hindwing and along hindwing margin; female is black with metallic blue on forewing and along hindwing margin; abdomen bright reddish orange; lacks tail
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Below:
- black with numerous small metallic blue spots on hindwing and bright reddish orange patch near abdomen
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Abundance: |
occasional; very localized |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
