Heliconius Species

 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

Zebra longwing

1 PC A1 £ 3.50

Heliconius doris

heliconius doris

The Doris

Peru

WS

A1 £3.80

heliconius doris verso

Heliconius erato

heliconius erato, red postman butterfly, peru

Red postman butterfly

Peru

w 70mm

m A1 £3.75

heliconius erato, red postman butterfly, verso,peru

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

Peru

WS 80mm

A very variable species with many subspecies

heliconius hecale verso

Heliconius melpomene

heliconius erato, red postman butterfly, peru

Red postman butterfly

Peru

w 70mm

m A1 £3.75

heliconius erato, red postman butterfly, verso,peru
heliconius melpomene xenoclea

Heliconius melpomene xenoclea

Peru

M A1 £ 4.20

heliconius melpomene xenoclea verso

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.

Heliconius pardalinus

Peru

w 70mm

m A1 £5

Heliconius sara

heliconius sara

Sara longwing

Peru

A1 £ 3.90

heliconius sara verso

Heliconius telesiphe

heliconius telesiphe

 Telesiphe longwing

Peru

w 80mm

m A1 £ 3.50

heliconius telesiphe verso

Heliconius wallacei

heliconius wallacei

Wallace's longwing

Peru

 w 70mm

m A1 £3.50

heliconius wallacei verso