# Atala (*Eumaeus atala*) The Atala butterfly is a small, colorful insect with bright blue and black wings. These butterflies love to flutter around gardens and are known for their beautiful appearance. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Atala](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eumaeus_atalaPCCA20040418-1454A.jpg&width=800) Photo: Patrick Coin ( Patrick Coin ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eumaeus_atalaPCCA20040418-1454A.jpg) ## Appearance The Atala is a striking butterfly with velvety black wings. Its hindwings feature brilliant iridescent blue patches, while its abdomen and a small patch near its body are a vibrant red-orange, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Eumaeus ## Interesting facts - Atala butterflies were once thought extinct in Florida, but they made a comeback! - Male Atalas patrol specific territories, like tiny aerial guards, searching for mates. - Their caterpillars are bright red with yellow spots – a clear warning sign! - They flutter rapidly, making their iridescent blue patches sparkle in the sunlight. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Snack:** Atala caterpillars can eat poisonous coontie plants, storing toxins that make them, and later the butterfly, taste bad to predators. - **Warning Colors:** Atala has bright blue and red coloration that warns predators it's toxic, helping them avoid being eaten. - **Flower Matchmaker:** Atala sips nectar from flowers, helping them reproduce by carrying pollen on its body from one bloom to another. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Atalas drink flower nectar; caterpillars munch on coontie leaves for food. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat specific coontie plant leaves; adults drink nectar from various flowers. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, Zamia integrifolia leaves, Lantana camara nectar, Bidens alba nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [coontie](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coontie) (*Zamia integrifolia*) — Larvae eat its leaves for survival. - **Pollinates:** [lantana](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lantana) (*Lantana camara*) — Adults feed on its nectar. - **Eaten by:** green anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — A common predator of larvae and adults. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Atala? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Atala's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Atala? 15-20 mm ### How long does Atala live? 7-14 days ### What does Atala eat? Adult Atalas drink flower nectar; caterpillars munch on coontie leaves for food. ### Where is Atala usually found? Urban areas ### How does Atala hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Atala have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Busch Gardens Tampa](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/busch-gardens-tampa) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Collins Waterfront Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/collins-waterfront-architectural-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Downtown Miami Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-miami-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Edison and Ford Winter Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/edison-and-ford-winter-estates) — US · Botanical Garden - [El Cid Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-cid-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District [View all places to see Atala](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/atala) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Atala: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atala)