Heliconius sara

Heliconius sara(Heliconius sara)

Phylumarthropoda
Class —insecta
Order —lepidoptera
Family —nymphalidae

Genus –heliconius

Appearance

It is a colorful species: the dorsal wing surface is black with a large medial patch of metallic blue that is framed by two bands of white on the forewings. The ventral wing surface is a dull brown to black with muted bands and small red spots on the proximal margin. Total wingspan is 55–60 mm.

Habitat

Heliconiussara is widespread throughout Central America and South America.

Behavior

In the late afternoon, the butterflies gather in groups to spend the night on the branches of trees. Groups can be quite numerous and may consist of one or different species of butterflies. The process of forming groups takes about an hour, because the newly appeared butterflies make the rest ones to be excited. The same butterflies will visit this place night after night.

Diet

The butterflies feed on the nectar of plants of the species Hamelia, Lantana, Palicourea and Psiguria.

Reproduction

These butterflies reproduce continuously, with several generations produced every year.

Heliconiussaraare one of several heliconiids exhibiting the unusual practice of pupal mating, in which adult males are attracted to female pupae via the latter's pheromones.The males compete for prime perch space close to the females' chrysalids, and successful suitors forcibly mate with the females immediately following their emergence. Alternatively, males may also patrol a territory in which they search for females that have already emerged.

Like other heliconiids, females seek the new growth of passion flower vines on that to lay their small yellow eggs, in clusters of 10–50. The vines contain toxic compounds that the caterpillars are immune to; as they feed upon the vines, the caterpillars concentrate the toxins within their tissues. After pupating, the adult retains the toxins and is thus protected from predation.

The adult stage has a lifespan of 2–3 months.

 

 

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