Red postman

Family: Nymphs (Nymphalidae)

Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Florida, Texas

Wingspan: About 5 - 8cm

Host plant: Passion flowers(Passiflora spp)

Heliconius erato, or red postman, is a colorful and eye-catching butterfly found in Central and South America. It is characterized by its black wings with bright red and yellow bands, which serve as a warning signal to predators that it is poisonous. The larvae feed on passion flowers(Passiflora spp.), which contain toxic substances. The caterpillars can tolerate these poisons and use them for their own protection. When the butterfly reaches the adult stage, it retains these toxins, making it poisonous.

Heliconius erato is a mimicry species, which means that it mimics other poisonous butterflies in the Heliconius genus to further enhance its protection against predators. A unique feature of this species is that the adult butterflies feed on both nectar and pollen, giving them a longer lifespan than many other butterflies - often up to several months.

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