After years of waiting, knowing their habitat was slowly expanding northward, occasionally buying more coontie plants (the caterpillars only food source), knowing there were healthy populations in the area (Henegar center, Max Rodes park community center, Florida Tech, probably the Brevard Zoo and at the Walmart on Palm Bay road to name a few), almost executing a plan to cut some fronds with caterpillars from Max Rodes and let them go on my coontie plants. Was wandering the yard a couple week ago, went over to one of the largest coonties and saw this.
Atala caterpillars.




Then about 10 days later, chrysalis



Didn't see the butterflies when they emerged, but a few days later saw this one, appeared to be laying eggs.



Today saw caterpillars on a couple of the smaller potted coonties



eggs on some.



and butterflies



Info about the Atala Hairstreak.

Florida Tech- A Conservation Story

DM


Edited: 08/07/2024 at 05:44 PM by Dangermouse01

thank for the photos and link. I've seen those before. Reading about them now.

Great photos. I've barely seen adults, but some are on the way. First time they've shown up in my yard. Flickr album. A few photos are also at my "nice shot" thread.

Unintended double post

Edited: 08/08/2024 at 09:20 PM by ww

Be careful what you wish for. These butterflies have invaded my yard for the past 3 years. If you grow any Zamia species (not just coonties) - plan on having them destroyed by the caterpillars. I would love to learn what their predator is so I can encourage them to balance the devastation to my garden.

They are probably pretty poisonous and nasty-tasting, so I wouldn't expect natural enemies of the predatory kind. Bacteria & fungi? My yard went quiet after the burst of activity, saw one adult this week, nothing more. Yes, there's a long history of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and various others in south Florida doing quiet atala management.

As for Zamias, they seem to produce lots of seedlings, many seemingly squirrel-planted.

Been seeing them in my yard 3 yrs ago and reported them to UF. Very pretty. The like to loaf in my areca hedge.
The coonties the fed on initially did slowly come back.

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Time and tide wait for no one.....

Edited: 10/02/2024 at 07:41 AM by KP