Dryas

Dryas is a genus of butterflies, family Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae, monotypic, with the Julia butterfly, Dryas iulia, also called the Julia heliconian, the flame or the flambeau, as its sole living species. Native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer sometimes as far north as eastern Nebraska, the butterfly has a wingspan of 82 to 92 millimeters, is orange, brighter in males, with black markings, and belongs to the orange Muellerian mimicry complex owing to being somewhat unpalatable to birds; over 15 subspecies have been described. A fast flier frequenting clearings, paths and the margins of forests and woodlands, it feeds on flower nectar and is notable for drinking tears from caimans, while its spiky caterpillars feed on passion vines and can cause skin rashes; the species is popular in butterfly houses for its longevity and daytime activity.