Heliconians and Fritillaries

Heliconiinae

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Heliconiinae: /ˌhɛlɪkəˈniːnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Dryas iulia alcionea (2872463615) by yakovlev.alexey from Moscow, Russia. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Dryas iulia (Nymphalidae) - Flickr - Alejandro Bayer by Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Dryadula phaetusa 22zz by Photo by David J. Stang. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Dryadula phaetusa MHNT by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Dione juno and Dryas iulia difference by Dione juno photograph by Hans Hillewaert. Dryas iulia photograph by Charles J. Sharp.. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Dryadula phaetusa 7zz by Photo by David J. Stang. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

The Heliconiinae is a diverse subfamily of butterfly characterized by their striking coloration and complex evolutionary relationships, primarily found in tropical regions and known for their mimicry and toxic larval diets.

Physical Characteristics

Predominantly reddish and black coloration with elongated forewings. Varying wing shapes among different genera.

Identification Tips

Look for strong aposematic colors and long, elongated forewings characteristic of longwings.

Habitat

Primarily tropical environments, especially in South America; some diversity found in Holarctic regions.

Distribution

Widely distributed in tropical regions, particularly South America; Argynnini are diverse in the Holarctic.

Diet

Larvae typically feed on poisonous plants, especially from the Passifloraceae family; adults feed on nectar from various flowering plants including Fabaceae and Violaceae.

Life Cycle

The life cycle includes stages as egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly which can exhibit mimicry.

Reproduction

Reproduction generally involves females laying eggs on host plants where larvae can feed.

Predators

Predators include birds and other insectivorous animals, deterred by the butterflies' toxicity and warning coloration.

Ecosystem Role

Important pollinators in their ecosystems, contributing to the health of the flora they interact with.

Collecting Methods

  • Netting adult butterflies
  • Catching larvae from host plants

Preservation Methods

  • Pinning specimens for display
  • Freezing larvae before mounting

Evolution

The Heliconiinae show significant evolutionary diversity with complex taxonomic relationships, possibly leading to future reclassifications as phylogenetic studies progress.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Some genera have been misclassified, leading to confusion regarding their relationships and distribution.

Tags

  • butterflies
  • Nymphalidae
  • Heliconiinae
  • longwings
  • taxonomy