Numata longwing
Common NameNumata longwing
Scientific NameHeliconius numata
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyHeliconiinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Primary Colorsorange, black, cream
HabitatTropical rainforests, forest edges, clearings
Geographic RangeCentral America, South America (e.g., Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana)
Host PlantsPassiflora spp. (passionflower vines)
Flight PeriodYear-round
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on toxic passionflower vines, sequestering defensive compounds. Adults are long-lived and unique among butterflies for feeding on pollen, which provides essential amino acids for egg production.
Identification TipsIdentified by its specific orange, black, and pale yellow/white pattern, which includes prominent orange bands across the forewings and hindwings, often with pale spots near the forewing apex. It is part of a Müllerian mimicry complex, so distinguishing it from similar-looking species requires close attention to pattern details.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with elongated wings, displaying a striking pattern of bright orange and creamy yellow-white bands and spots on a black background.
