Heliconius numata (Cramer, 1780)
Numata Longwing
Papilio numata (Cramer, 1780)
There are nearly 30 subspecies recorded in the Neotropics (Lamas, 2004). It is an unpalatable species and show a wide variety polymorphic. Integra mimetic complex "tiger pattern" showing chromatic polymorphism in different arrangements of black and orange colors. It is a species that fly high and is found in low numbers in the primary forest where co-inhabit with butterflies ithominae mimics. However, if the forest is disturbed can proliferate in abundance. Both sexes can be captured at flowers of orange-red color (e.g. Palicourea, Warszewiczia (Rubiaceae), Lantana (Verbenaceae), Passiflora (Passifloraceae). In the late afternoon also makes aggregations. For H. numata and anothers species see Brown & Benson (1974).
PDF not available
Bolivia; Brasil; Colombia; Ecuador; Guyane française; Perú; Suriname; Venezuela
This species visit flowers flowers of colors in general orange to red.
Host-plant recorded in Brazil according compiled by (Beccaloni et al. 2008), are:
Passifloracea: Dilkea spp., Passiflora spp., Passiflora actinia, Passiflora acuminata, Passiflora alata, Passiflora auriculata, Passiflora bahiensis, Passiflora candida, Passiflora “cerradense”, Passiflora citrifolia?, Passiflora coccinea, Passiflora edulis, Passiflora eichleriana, Passiflora faroana, Passiflora glandulosa, Passiflora jileki, Passiflora laurifolia, Passiflora leptopoda?, Passiflora nitida, Passiflora quadriglandulosa, Passiflora rhamnifolia, Passiflora riparia, Passiflora setacea, Passiflora sidaefolia, Passiflora tricuspis, Passiflora vellozii, Tetrastylis ovalis.
black, orange, yellow, cream
forest, forest edge, anthropogenic
- Lamas G. (2004):
- Atlas of neotropical Lepidoptera - Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papilionoidea. Book.: 1-439
- Brown Jr. K.S., Benson, W.W. (1974):
- Adaptive polymorphism associated with multiple müllerian mimicry in Heliconius numata (Lepid. Nymph.). Biotropica. 6(4): 205-2208
- Beccaloni G.W, Viloria A.L., Hall S.K., Robinson G.S. (2008):
- Catalogue of the hostplants of the Neotropical butterflies. Book., London, S.E.A., Ribes, CYTED, Natural History Museum, IVIC: 1-536
H. numata var. silvana
From dorsal
Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas
H. numata var. numata
From dorsal
Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas
H. numata var. superioris
From dorsal
Specimen deposited in the Collection of Invertebrates INPA, Manaus, Amazonas