Among Tobago’s most radiant natural wonders, the Flambeau Butterfly (Dryas iulia) ignites the landscape with its vivid orange glow. Gliding gracefully through sunlight and shadow, this fiery-winged beauty is a true emblem of tropical warmth and vitality.
Belonging to the Nymphalidae family, the Flambeau’s long, narrow wings shimmer in shades of orange and gold, flickering like flames as it dances above forest edges, gardens, and coastal meadows. Males boast brighter hues, while females display a softer glow, both captivating in motion and stillness alike.
Found throughout Tobago’s open woodlands and lush riverbanks, the Flambeau thrives where passionflower vines grow, the very plants its caterpillars depend on for life. By day, it flits tirelessly among blossoms in search of nectar; by dusk, it rests gently beneath leaves, gathering in quiet clusters a nightly ritual as poetic as it is peaceful.
More than just a butterfly, the Flambeau symbolizes Tobago’s natural energy, bold, beautiful, and alive with colour. Each flutter is a brushstroke of orange fire against the island’s green canvas, a reminder that Tobago’s magic is always in motion.