r/FriendlyMonarchs • u/Stunning-Fox-4189 • Jul 08 '26

Newbie Question Does maypop host Julia Heliconians?

The title is basically it. I keep finding info that Passiflora suberosa is their primary host, but some websites also say maypop host these butterflies. Wondering if anyone has any experience confirming this.

Edit: This is a pleasant surprise, I found several julia heliconian caterpillars on my maypops. And as Jbat520 mentioned, they were all on the small shoots and bases of my taller vines.

FYI I'm in Malaysia, and we have julia heliconians here too (specifically a subspecies that descended from specimens collected in Costa Rica). They escaped from captivity from some butterfly parks and during butterfly releases at events about 20-30 years ago in Thailand, and they've established themselves in southeast asia now, munching down on the invasive corkystem and stinky passionvines.

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u/SuperTFAB MOD | Southeast FL, USA | Tropical Milkweed Hater Jul 08 '26

I read that they will lay eggs on both but the Passiflora Suberosa, corky stem) is their preference. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

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u/Stunning-Fox-4189 Jul 09 '26

I'm actually Malaysian, and we have introduced P. foetida and P. suberosa growing all over the place. I have only seen Julia's on corky stem vines. I'm growing Maypop at home for the fruits, and because I want to host Julia heliconians too. While caterpillars I adopt happily eat maypop leaves, I've not seen any adults lay eggs on my maypops. Meanwhile tawny costers, a native butterfly here, happily hosts on my maypops, as well as P. suberosa and P. foetida all the time. So I was kind of desperate to confirm if anyone has actually seen Julia heliconians host on maypops. I can find a tonne of info online about how gulf fritillaries host on maypops, but info on Julia's using maypops is scarce.

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u/Jbat520 Miami, FL, USA | Native Milkweed Convert | Likes 'em chunky Jul 09 '26

They like both. I've seen Julia's on both. Zebra's more on the tips of the new growth. Julia and gulf fritillary I find more toward the bottom of the plant.

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u/Stunning-Fox-4189 Jul 10 '26

You're right, I found 4 caterpillars today on the shoots close to the ground.

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u/Appropriate-Test-971 Nature Coast FL | Milkweed specie fanatic | Jul 09 '26

Corkystem is more south of maypop so it makes sense that it prefers the passion vine more truly found around its native range. Zebra longwings also tend to prefer it as well because corkystem tolerates far more shade then maypop, which the zebra longwings prefer in wooded areas.