A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Heliconius charitanius
The boldly striped black and white wing pattern is aposematic, warning off predators. The adult butterflies are unusual in feeding on pollen as well as on nectar; the pollen enables them to synthesize cyanogenic glycosides that make their bodies toxic to potential predators. Caterpillars feed on various species of passionflower, evading the plants' defensive trichomes by biting them off or laying silk mats over them.
La Paz waterfall gardens. The species frequents tropical hammocks, moist forests, edges, or fields
Spotted on Sep 13, 2008
Submitted on Dec 17, 2020
No Comments