Atala at Canaveral National Seashore

An Atala buttefly sits on a coontie leaf.

NPS/Photo Valerie Stanley

The rare Florida Atala butterfly was found in 2021 at Canaveral National Seashore in front of the Apollo Visitor Center, hovering over the garden in front of the visitor center. Southeast Florida along the coast is where this species is usually found. Cape Canaveral south to Florida. However, it may not be so common on the north side of the cape where the Apollo Visitor center resides.

The atala is named in 1832 by Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey after a novella written by French author Chateaubriand. Thought to be extinct from 1937- 1959, this species has since been discovered in locations such as the Bahamas, Abacos, Cuba, Turks & Caicos and Caymen Islands.

The coontie plant is the only plant used for the egg, pupa and caterpillar stages. The coontie plant, also called arrowroot, was at one time over harvested as a food source. Landscapers may be tempted to use insecticide on the coontie plant due to its leaves being eaten up.

The male atala like a place to perch. Ideally on large leaf plants such as the sea grape plant. During the mating process where they release pheromones during the mating stage.Factors that may lead to population decline:

• Loss of the host plant coontie would be detrimental to the Atala.
• Taking the butterfly to a location that is not their primary habitat (even if it is with good intentions) further threatens the population that the butterfly was taken from.

Coontie was over harvested in the early 1900's which created a decline in the Atala species. Coontie is poisonous in its natural state which makes the atala poisonous. Cycasin toxin is present in the plant. When the caterpillar eats the plant is ingests the poison. Florida Natural Areas Inventory assigns this species an S2 listing.

NPS/Photo Valerie Stanley

Catepillers crawl along the leaves of the coontie. Look a little closer and many caterpillars are on the leaves of the coontie. The leaves of the coontie will soon be eaten which is often a concern to gardeners that have this species in their garden. However, the plant will grow back!


Resources:
atala hairstreak (ufl.edu)
Provide for Wildlife-The Atala Butterfly - UF/IFAS Extension Broward County (ufl.edu)
Home - Florida Natural Areas Inventory (fnai.org)

Written by: Ashley Lord