The Doris longwing, our Butterfly of the Week, is extra special because it comes in a variety of colors. While all Doris longwings have white or cream spots on the edge and middle of their primary wings, their hind wings can range from orange, blue, red, or bright cream. Identifying them in the wild can be tricky but you can always ask our employees and volunteers located in the butterfly pavilion for help. Make sure to read the other fun facts below before visiting the Doris longwing butterfly at SOAR!
Fun Facts:
- Doris longwing butterflies are considered polymorphic, meaning there is more than one wing color variation for this butterfly. Polymorphism is a result of having more than one possibility of a trait for a gene. It’s the same reason dogs of the same breed are born in a variety of colored coats.
- Doris longwing butterflies can be found from Central America to the Amazon
- They have a wingspan of 2.5-3.5 inches
- There are multiple subspecies of Doris longwing butterflies. Each one has slightly different colors or patterns on their wings.
- Male Doris longwings are smaller and more vibrant than females, which are duller and have larger, rounder wings
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