Butterflies belong to the order of insects known as Lepidoptera. Classified by their scaly bodies, wings, and feeding tube on the front of their head called a proboscis. Heliconius is a geographically variable butterfly with around 40 named species. H. melpomene & H. erato shared a common ancestor over 10 million years ago, they've now branched off and share around 30 named geographic subspecies. The Heliconius pictured above could possibly be the subspecies Heliconius erato lativitta in De Hortus, Amsterdam.

Heliconius erato is widespread throughout America, it is a pollen-feeding species collecting pollen with its proboscis, stirring the pollen by coiling and uncoiling their proboscis to release the nutrients. Passiflora spp. have coevolved with Heliconius butterflies to increase their chances of cross-pollination (H. erato feeding) and survival (not being eaten by the larvae). Various Passiflora plants produce different toxins in their leaves to deter Heliconius, causing particular preferences for oviposition among the various species/subspecies. Once deposited, the yellow eggs can be seen on the shoots and tendrils of Passiflora.

This butterfly is a great example of Müllerian mimicry. Müllerian mimicry is when two or more harmful/toxic species mimic one another to increase the chances of deterring predators therefore increasing group protection. Heliconius are toxic to birds as they contain cyanide based compounds from the Passiflora vines they eat as caterpillars. The bird spits out the butterfly, recognises the patterns of red aposematic colouration and is deterred from eating it or anything that resembles it again. Win-win for both species/subspecies.

See a video of  Heliconius erato & Helionius charitonius butterflies here.