The endangered Atala butterfly. Tampa, Fl.

#atala #butterflies #floridabutterflies #coontie

#Zamiaointegrifolia, also known as #coontie, is a small, tough, woody cycad native to the southeastern United States (in Florida and formerly in Georgia), the Bahamas, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico. It is the only cycad native to the continental United States (the parts of the USA that exclude Hawaii and Alaska).[8] Traditionally, it was used by Indigenous Americans to make starch.[9]

#Zamiaointegrifolia, also known as #coontie, is a small, tough, woody cycad native to the southeastern United States (in Florida and formerly in Georgia), the Bahamas, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico. It is the only cycad native to the continental

An Atala butterfly larva on a coontie plant. The larva is reddish brown with 2 rows of yellow spots.

Two Atala butterfly larvae on a coontie plant. The larvae are reddish brown with 2 rows of yellow spots.

An Atala butterfly larva on a coontie plant. The larva is reddish brown with 2 rows of yellow spots.

Close up of an Atala butterfly. It is blackish blue with blue-white spots on the wings and an orangish abdomen. It is native to South Florida.

Three of my coontie plants have Atala Butterfly larvae!

The #coontie is native to South Florida and is the sole host plant for the #AtalaButterfly

The last photo was not taken by me, but wanted to show what the adults look like.