Skip to main content
Postman (Heliconius melepomene)

Postman

Heliconius melepomene

Species Statistics

Lifespan

14 days

In Flight

97

Family

Nymphalidae

Subfamily

Heliconiinae

Geographic Range

Central/South America

Habitat & Behavior

It can be seen flying in two's or three's around clearings, and along roads and tracks through primary forest, but seems to be more abundant in secondary forest.

Fun Facts

Fun Fact

There are many morphs of this butterfly throughout Central and South America. The geographical variation in patterns has been studied using linkage mapping and it has been found that the patterns are associated with a small number of genetic loci called genomic "hotspots".

Wings Open
Wings Closed