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Heliconius hecale melicerta
It is one of the most common species of Heliconius in Central and South America. Usually they fly quickly and erratically in the canopy and at levels lower trees. They are usually grouped in pairs and or in small groups at night to sleep between 2 and 10 metres above ground in branches or tendrils. It uses many Passiflora species as larval host plant. Adults are most common in plants Psiguria and Gurania, where aggressively defend a flower of other butterflies.-------------------------------------Es una de las especies más comunes de Heliconius en América Central y del Sur. Por lo general vuelan rápidamente y erráticamente en el dosel y en los niveles más bajos de los árboles. Suelen agruparse en parejas y o en pequeños grupos por la noche para dormir entre 2 y 10 metros sobre el suelo en ramas o zarcillos. Utiliza numerosas especies de Passiflora como planta hospedera larval. Los adultos son más comunes en las plantas Psiguria y Gurania, donde defienden agresivamente una flor de otras mariposas.
Widely distributed from Mexico to the Amazon, on the level of the sea up to 1,700 m, this species is found in literally all Neotropical habitats, from primary jungle to open pastures.---------------------------------Ampliamente distribuida desde México hasta el Amazonas, sobre el nivel del mar hasta 1,700 m, esta especie se halla en literalmente todos los hábitats neotropicales, desde selva primaria hasta pasturas abiertas.
I got the confirmation from Kim Garwood. Heliconius hecale melicerta is correct, they added the wrong name on their website.
It is not the same site! Yours is from BOA, my reference site and the other one is also an excellent site. Anyway, you MUST double-check every link independently where it was coming from (even my IDs ;-)...). So you learn a lot and you can compare with other ones from other links if something seems not being correct. The worst thing are IDs from butterfly houses.
Your 5 butterflies are all from the same species/subspecies. You have males and females there and as an additional nightmare for IDing you always have some variation within the genus and also within the species.
So, your BOA link is correct!
Bayucca
Some time ago I has the same problem with the same site. Five diffrent forms of a butterfly has the same name. Check it please:
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/opsiphan...
I sent a mail to Kim Garwood for checking the name. I think there might be a misspelling, would be the good news, at least for me ;-)...
Hmm, yes you are right, the link is with Anderida. I will ask to check the link. Thanks for notifying me. I will come back with news, good or bad ones ;-)...
Ok, thanks for the reference, but I'm not understand, or my reference is wrong, or two diffrent species has the same name (illogical).
I found my first reference from here:
http://www.neotropicalbutterflies.com/Si...
You are right with Heliconius hecale but it is the other subspecies Heliconius hecale melicerta. Anderida is from South America and has a black bar on the hindwing. Anderida to compare: http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/he...
Melicerta: http://butterfliesofamerica.com/heliconi...
http://www.heliconius.org/2009/heliconiu...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwc/1...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwc/1...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandma-shi...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/weimar_mene...
Spotted on Dec 30, 2012
Submitted on Jan 2, 2013
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