Long-lived-butterfly

Guides

• Heliconius charithonia

  zebra longwing, zebra heliconian

  Heliconius charithonia is a medium-sized butterfly with striking black and white longitudinal wing stripes. Adults are notable among butterflies for feeding on both pollen and nectar, enabling synthesis of cyanogenic glycosides that render them unpalatable to predators. The species exhibits communal roosting behavior and specialized pupal mating. Larvae feed exclusively on passionflower vines (Passiflora spp.), with documented performance differences across host species.

  pollen-feedingaposematic-colorationpupal-matingcommunal-roostingPassiflora-specialistlong-lived-butterflydevelopmental-plasticitycyanogenic-glycosidesFlorida-state-butterflytrap-lining-behavior