Crimson-patched Longwing
Heliconius erato
Description 3-3 3/8" (76-86 mm). Wings long, narrow, and rounded. Black above, crossed on FW by broad crimson patch, and on HW by narrow yellow line. Below, similar but red is pinkish and HW has less yellow.
Life Cycle Egg yellow, oval, and ribbed. Caterpillar studded with 6 rows of branched spines.
Host plants are passion flowers (Passiflora).
Flight Several broods; year-round, fluctuating in numbers.
Habitat Forest openings and edges.
Range S. Texas to South America.
Discussion The Crimson-patched Longwing is typical of a large number of similar butterflies limited to the American Tropics. All feed on passion flower foliage, which is suspected of rendering them distasteful. They form the basis of many large mimicry complexes, whereby butterflies and moths of several families fool their predators and gain collective protection. Longwings in the genus Heliconius live as adults for several months, feeding on pollen necessary for long-term egg production. Other butterflies are not known to utilize this form of concentrated protein. Flapping rather feebly, this species flies lower over the ground along the edges of woods, showing off its crimson patches.
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