The number of species of Heliconids is subject to great debate , as species that have previously been geographically separate can crossbreed producing numerous hybrid forms, but there are probably 39 definite species.

 They all share elongated black forewings with simple but striking patches of colours-  red , blue or cream. A few like  antiochus, sara and wallacei have metallic blue patches on the basal regions of both wings, the latter 2 can be distinguished on the underwing - where sara has a line of red dots ,whilst wallacei has  2 red lines (see pictures)

Heliconius charithonia

Heliconius doris

Heliconius erato

Erato and melpomene are virtually identical. Apparently one feature that does differ is their smell (when first caught) - melpomene  smells like fried rice whilst erato is likened to wytch hazel!

Look at the underside for 2 features , erato has 4 red dots where the wings attach to the thorax while melpomene has 3 . The yellow/white stripe on the underside reaches the margin of the hindwing in erato  but terminates before in melpomene.

Heliconius hecale

Heliconius hecale zuleika

Heliconius melpomene

Several species are called 'postmen' because of their habit of visiting the same flowers in the same pattern every day- like a postmen delivering letters on his patch!

In fact they have been shown to follow the most efficient pathway to feed between the plants. There is a lot of variation in patterns and colours  on the wings

Heliconius pardalinus

Heliconius sara

Heliconius telesiphe

Heliconius wallacei