TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Genus/species: Eueides isabella
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The forewing is elongated with a rounded apex. Wings are similar above and below. Apical half of forewing is black with yellow areas and the basal half is orange with a black stripe. E, isabellas hindwing is orange with 2 black stripes with white dots along the black outer margin.
Wing span 7.8 – 9 cm (3 1/16 – 3 1/2 in.in)
wing bottom
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Isabella’s Longwing is widely distributed in Central America and throughout northern South America south through Brazil. They occasionally migrate to the southern U.S., especially Texas. Found from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 feet) in canopy of the tropical forests.
DIET IN THE WILD: Caterpillars: host passion vine leaves; adults: nectar and pollen.
REPRODUCTION: Males mate with receptive females, which may breed more than once. Not a pupal mater. (See Zebra Longwing). Eggs are laid singly on underside of host plant.
MORTALITY: Like all Heliconians, they are long-lived.
References
California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017
Butterflies and Moths of North America www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/eueides-isabella
EOL eol.org/pages/155267/details
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-13d
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3142851869/in/album-72157608449327886/
Ron's Critter of the Day 