Might just be looking for a place to roost.

Might be a male cruising for a female.

Zebra Longwings like to have shady areas to fly in, IMHO. They don't like to be out in the hot sun for very long.

Male ZLWs don't "cruise for females" the way other butterflies, such as American Ladies, would.
Zebras females release a strong pheremone before they eclose. This attracts dozens of males which cluster around the chrysalid, jostling c each other to be the first to mate c the newly eclosing female. She is mated the minute she comes out of the crysalid, and the other males disperse.
Female Heliconiids need pollen for egg production. They esp prefer Cucurbits and male papaya trees as pollen sources. This pollen diet also allows female ZLWs to live for up to 8 mos.

Thanks everyone! It was getting dark so it was probably getting ready to roost. They do seem to prefer the shade garden much more than the sunny areas.
I didn't know that mating occured right after eclosing. Must have had some heavy mating, I have never seen as many as i have this year. May be due to the extra passion vines I put in this spring.
Thanks for all the info, I learn a lot from you all.

A picture I recently took of a zlw mating immediately upon emerging...

They don't waste any time, do they? :)

Great picture!

Sherry

Thanks Sherry!