Julia Butterfly

The Julia butterfly, also known as the Julia heliconian and Flambeau (the flame), is distinct from its Heliconinae subfamily counterparts and belongs to the Heliconini tribe. This tribe, usually known as longwings, includes significant species such as Florida’s state butterfly, the Zebra longwing, which belongs to the Nymphalidae or brush-footed family of butterflies. Notably, Julia’s legs are studded with small bristles resembling a toothbrush.

The Julia butterfly is easily identified by its elongated orange wings and has an astonishing wingspan of up to 9.2 cm. While females often have a more subdued orange tint than males, both genders share distinguishing traits like as a black bar on the forewing near its tip, which is more noticeable in males with a spotted pattern. Additionally, both sexes have a narrow black border down the hindwing. Interestingly, the Julia’s front legs are frequently covered, giving the impression of having only four legs.