Zebra Longwing Photograph by Dawn Currie

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Zebra Longwing

by Dawn Currie

Canvas Print

Framed Print

Art Print

Poster

Metal Print

Acrylic Print

Wood Print

Greeting Card

Title

Zebra Longwing

Artist

Dawn Currie

Medium

Photograph - Digital

Description

Photographic Artwork by Dawn Currie. Zebra Longwing Butterfly enjoying the nectar of a Lantana blossom in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek Florida.

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The Zebra Longwing butterfly (Heliconius charitonius) was designated the official state butterfly of Florida in 1996. The Zebra Longwing butterfly is found throughout Florida in hardwood hammocks, thickets, gardens, and particularly in the Everglades National Park.

Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with large scaly wings. The butterfly's body is covered by tiny sensory hairs. The four wings and the six legs of the butterfly are attached to the thorax. The thorax contains the muscles that make the legs and wings move.

Butterflies are very good fliers. However, they can only fly if their body temperature is above 86 degrees. Butterflies sun themselves to warm up in cool weather. As butterflies age, the color of the wings fades and the wings become ragged. The speed varies among butterfly species. The fastest butterflies (some skippers) can fly at about 30 mile per hour or faster. Slow flying butterflies fly about 5 mph.

Butterflies are found all over the world and in all types of environments: hot and cold, dry and moist, at sea level and high in the mountains. Most butterfly species, however, are found in tropical areas, especially tropical rain forests.