Dryas iulia, commonly called the Julia butterfly, Julia heliconian, the flame, or flambeau, is a species of brush-footed butterfly. The sole representative of its genus Dryas, it is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. Wikipedia
A study done in 2014 indicated that Julia’s proliferation in Southeast Asia originates from a butterfly farm in Phuket, where they release butterflies at weddings and Buddhist ceremonies.
Using DNA samples, it was found that the butterflies were likely exported from another farm in Costa Rica.
Julia’s host plants are passionflowers Passiflora suberosa and Passiflora foetida, both non-native plants that have been documented to be found on St. John Island. Mothership Article
Location: Coney Island – September 2022
Amazing saw Julia Heliconian butterflies everywhere along coastal pathway from punggol point park and throughout on Coney island today. I just found out these beauties were native to S.America. At least, from web reports, its food source not in competition with our native butterflies. Tawny Costner n one lacewing butterflies who feed on same food source are also from S.America. Tawny butterflies are commonly seen around grass patches around Bt Batok Nature Park, so I assumed they are natives to Singapore. So, Tawny was supposedly introduced/spotted first in 2007.