Heliconius charithonia

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Heliconius charithonia
Zebra Longwing
Zebra Longwing
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
(unranked) Rhopalocera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Genus: Heliconius
Species: H. charithonia
Binomial name
Heliconius charithonia
(Linnaeus, 1767)

The Zebra Longwing Heliconius charithonia,[1][2] (also known as the Zebra Heliconian) is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the Nymphalidae. It was declared the official butterfly of Florida (U.S.A.) in 1996.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

The butterfly ranges over parts of North, Central and South America, as well as the West Indies.[2] In North America the butterfly is found in the southern parts of the United States including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.[1] In South and Central America, it has been recorded in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.[1][2]

[edit] Life History

The caterpillar feeds on Passiflora lutea, (yellow passionflower), Passiflora suberosa (corky stemmed passionvine), and Passiflora biflora (two-flower). The adults are unusual among butterflies in that they eat pollen as well as sipping nectar. This ability contributes to their longevity -- 3 months as an adult.[3] Because of their relatively long lifespan and their activity throughout the day, this is a popular species with butterfly houses. Another unusual feature is that adults roost in groups of up to 70, and return to the same roost each evening.

[edit] Taxonomic note

In some publications the butterfly is referred to as Heliconius charitonius, but this is either a lapsus calami or unjustified emmendation of the original name given by Linnaeus in 1767, Papilio charithonia. Cramer in 1777 was apparently the first to publish this incorrect name. Godman & Salvin in 1901 refered to the species as H. charithonie [sic].

[edit] Gallery

Heliconius charithonius

Zebra heliconian hangs on during a wind gust

A Zebra Longwing caterpillar

[edit] Cited references

  1. ^ a b c Card for charithonia in LepIndex. Accessed 3 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Marrku Savela's Website on Lepidoptera on Heliconius genus.
  3. ^ Scott, JA. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press

[edit] External links

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