The atala butterfly can be found naturally in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida. There are groups in Lee County, Southwest Florida, that are putting their best foot forward in reviving this species in our area. One of those groups, The Florida Native Butterfly Society. They are raising them from caterpillar and releasing them around their Downtown Fort Myers property.

The atala’s host plant is the coontie.

I was excited to spot this one outside the Butterfly Estates sipping on some nectar.