Saba’s Butterflies

Many species of butterflies flit between Saba’s beautiful flowering plants, in colors and patterns just as vibrant. All of the island’s butterflies (and all butterflies in general, really) eat nutritious nectar and other liquids that they slurp up through their long, straw-like proboscis. The species featured here are three of the most commonly seen among the roughly 30 species of butterflies and moths found on Saba. 

Zebra longwings stand out during the day with their bold, black-and-white stripes. At night, you may also see these butterflies gathered in large groups of up to 60 individuals to rest — a safety-in-numbers behavior that helps to protect them from predators. As caterpillars they’re also black-and-white, but opt for polka-dots instead of stripes. These colors are defensive, letting predators know to stay away or get a mouthful of poison, which this species produces by eating nectar that they then metabolize into toxins. 

Gulf fritillaries are large, orange butterflies that range throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Although the topsides of their wings are vividly colored, the undersides are a dull brown, which makes for effective camouflage when they sit still and fold them closed. They’ve been known to have a bit of a rivalry with zebra longwings, and often fight over territory when they lay their eggs.

The cloudless sulphur — named for their large, yellow, sulfur-colored wings — is yellow throughout most of its life. Their eggs are shaped like tiny vases, and can range from white to pale yellow. Caterpillars are yellow or greenish in color, with horizontal brown stripes, and even their chrysalis, with its angular, flower-like shape, is yellow with pink-and-green undertones.

Header image by Kai Wulf.