About Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Dryadula is a monotypic genus in the butterfly family Nymphalidae. This genus contains only one species: Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758), which has the common names banded orange heliconian, banded orange, and orange tiger. This butterfly is native to the region ranging from Brazil to central Mexico. In summer, rare individuals can be found as far north as central Florida. The species has a wingspan between 86 and 89 mm. Males are bright orange with thick black stripes, while females are duller orange with fuzzier black stripes. Adult butterflies feed primarily on flower nectar and bird droppings. Caterpillars of this species feed on passion vines, including Passiflora tetrastylis. The species generally occurs in lowland tropical fields and valleys. Dryadula phaetusa is unpalatable to birds and is part of the 'orange' Müllerian mimicry complex.
