Eumaeus atala's flight is slow, unlike the swift, erratic flight of many other Lycaenidae species.
   Their natural habitat is open brushy areas and tropical hammocks, often in pine woodlands. Many populations now exist in suburban areas containing ornamental cycads.
    Males typically keep close to a site with host plants, often forming small colonies of a few individuals.
   The females, however, will usually disperse in search of more hosts.
    This is the largest and most iridescent hairstreak in southeastern Florida.
   Due to the decline in the abundance and distribution of its host plant caused by over harvesting, the Atala butterfly was thought to be extinct from 1937 until 1959. 
   Adult size is partly determined by the quality and availability of host plants, which the caterpillars eat. 

    The underside of the hindwing also displays a large bright red spot on the mid caudal area, and the abdomen is red orange. These red scales are not formed by the same microscopic structural forms as the ultramarine spots and are not reflective.

   In male Atala, the upper side of the open wings displays bright iridescent Caribbean blue or teal green scales that cover most of the upper wing and some of the lower hind wing.

   The color is partially genetically determined, and is also associated with seasonal humidity, daylight length, and temperatures. (Blue scales are more common in the warmer summer months and green scales are more prominent during the cooler winter months.)

   Males are generally slightly smaller than females.

   Females display bright iridescent royal blue color on part of the upper surface of the forewings.

   Both males and females are relatively sedentary if the necessary nectar sources and host plants are available.

   Adults fly in a slow moth like flight pattern, although males in particular can fly very fast and erratically, performing aerial displays to attract females and challenge male rivals.

   Atalas of both sexes mate multiple times. 

    Adult Atala butterflies may live as long as three weeks or more in the wild and have been known to live two to nearly three months in colonies with ideal nectar and host plants.

   A variety of flowers are used as nectar sources.       Because these butterflies have a short proboscis, they need flowers with short corollas, although they have been observed climbing head first into large deep flowers.

   White flowering plants seem to attract them more than other colors, and all palm tree flowers are particularly attractive.