August Butterfly Bucket List- Zebra Longwing

I'd given up getting any sort of shot of a butterfly at all for the August Butterfly Bucket List hosted by Anna at The Transmutational Garden every 4th Sunday.  I was actually out taking photos today of some clumps of century plants that I have big (BIG!) plans for.

I was trying to get some good wide shots of the beds the century plants currently dominate, when I spotted a dragonfly I didn't recognize.  Off I went to get a photo (of course!) and while I was wheeling around it trying to get a good shot of any identifying marks, my attention was captured by a narrow winged strongly striped black and yellow blur in the background.

It was one of a handful of Texas butterflies I recognize on sight, a Zebra Longwing (Heliconius-charithonia).  I was elated! A sighting for August in the nick of time! In the spirit of the Bucket List, I decided it was time to fill in some gaps in my information on this wonderfully striped visitor.

According to the information on the BOMA page linked above, Zebra Longwings grow to a length of between 2 3/4 and 4 inches, wing tip to wing tip.  Their preferred host plant is any one of the several varieties of passion vines.  I found it fascinating that such a strongly patterned winged creature flies around leaving eggs and setting their cats loose on vines bearing one of the most striking flowers around.

The adults feed on lantana and shepherd's needle preferentially.  I'd never heard of shepherd's needle previously (a parsley relative - butterflies of all stripes do love the parsleys) but we have loads of lantana around as evidenced in the photos today.

Zebra Longwings are reported to have a set foraging route.  They are considered "trap-line" feeders.  That means since I saw one out on our lantana this afternoon, if I am observant I ought to be able to catch it visiting again tomorrow.  And the next day.  I like that idea - that the zebra and I have a standing appointment, if I wish to keep it.

What I found really intriguing, is that adults roost communally in groups of 25-30 individuals.  I can barely imagine what that might look like, a cluster of 2-3 dozen of these beauties all in one place at one time.  It would be like winning the butterfly lottery - a bonafide Zebra Longwing Jackpot!

So, take that, August.  While I barely made the cut this month I am optimistic the return of slightly cooler temperatures and at least a chance for precipitation will see our winged visitors showing up in numbers again soon.

Thanks to Anna for hosting this wonderful incentive to get out and take a closer look at who is flying in and dropping by.  Be sure to visit her own August post and pick up the links to a whole host of great bloggers posting about their own butterfly experiences this month.