Heliconius

Heliconius is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, commonly known as longwings. They are native to the Americas, especially the neotropical regions, ranging from southern United States through Central and South America, with some species in the Caribbean. They inhabit forests, forest edges, and disturbed habitats and are active during the day.

Description and biology: The genus comprises about 40 to 50 species. Adults usually have elongated wings with bold black patterns accented by bright red, yellow, or white bands. Wing patterns are highly variable across species and populations and are a defining feature in the mimicry networks in their environments. Larvae feed on Passiflora (passionflower) plants and often sequester plant toxins as chemical defenses. Adults primarily nectar-feed, and males commonly feed on pollen, a lifelong source of amino acids that can extend lifespan and support extended courtship.

Ecology and mimicry: Heliconius butterflies are central to Müllerian mimicry rings in the Americas, where multiple unpalatable species share similar warning patterns to deter predators. The genus has become a focal point in evolutionary biology for studying mimicry, ecological diversification, and speciation. The wing-color pattern is controlled by a small set of major-effect genes, including optix (red pattern) and WntA (black pattern), with additional loci contributing to pattern detail and color.

Conservation and research importance: Many Heliconius species are affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. The genus is a long-standing model in genetics and evolutionary research, with extensive work on natural hybridization, adaptive radiation, and the genetic basis of color pattern, particularly in species such as Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius erato.