Erato Longwing Butterfly | Heliconius erato PUPAE

Heliconius erato, commonly known as the Erato Longwing or Small Postman, is a striking butterfly species belonging to the Nymphalidae family, subfamily Heliconiinae. This butterfly is well-known for its vibrant red and black color pattern and is found in Central and South America, particularly from Mexico to Brazil.

Heliconius erato is a medium-sized butterfly, with a wingspan of about 50 to 70 mm. The butterfly has distinctive and eye-catching coloration that varies across its subspecies which are capable of interbreeding to produce mixed colour forms - these are stunning and a lot of fun to breed in a greenhouse or similar setup!

It inhabits a variety of environments, including lowland rainforests, cloud forests, and forest edges. It is commonly found in areas with abundant Passionflower species, which are the primary host plants for its larvae. Heliconius erato is active during the day. The butterflies are often observed feeding on nectar from a wide variety of flowers, and their bright coloration is involved in mate selection by the female butterflies. The males are known for their territorial behavior, defending feeding spots and areas where they can find mates.

The relationship between Heliconius butterflies and Passionflowers is particularly interesting, as it is a well-documented example of coevolution. 

Heliconius erato exhibits a form of Batesian mimicry, where its coloration resembles that of other distasteful or toxic butterflies. Specifically, it mimics other butterflies in the Heliconius genus that are unpalatable to predators. This mimicry helps protect Heliconius erato from potential predators such as birds, which avoid butterflies with bright coloration, associating them with a bad taste or toxicity.

Host plants: Passionvines (Passiflora)

Difficulty: Easy (2/10)

Conditions: Warm room temperature & high humidity.

Lifecycle: Continually brooded; adults are very long-lived.