Heliconius Numata Butterfly 2019

by Karen Adams

Title

Heliconius Numata Butterfly 2019

Artist

Karen Adams

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Prints - Photography

Description

This lovely Longwing butterfly is a Heliconius numata longwing. They are a widespread species, found from Panama to Bolivia. The colorful Amazonian butterfly has seven different wing color patterns, each of which mimics the wing patterns of seven different species in the genus Melinaea. The reason for this mimicry is biological warfare. Melinaea caterpillars eat plants in the deadly nightshade family and sequester their host plant's poisons in their tissues. These accumulated poisons make Melinaea butterflies toxic to birds, who learn to associate specific wing patterns with a sickening meal. By adopting the same warning patterns as their toxic Melinaea butterfly neighbors, Numata butterflies also benefit.

But Heliconius numata are also toxic to birds, but they rely on a different poison: their caterpillars feed on toxic plants in the passion flower family. This evolutionary phenomenon where two or more harmful species -- such as Heliconius numata and Melinaea -- mimic each other's warning signals is known as Müllerian mimicry. Isn't that so fascinating? Nature's beauty is not simply beauty for itself, but also a form to help survival! I personally really love the warm chestnut orange coloring of these wonderful butterflies!

Heliconius butterflies are characterized by having a very delicate fluttering flight, particularly when hovering around flowers. They commonly nectar at Hamelia, Lantana and Palicourea.

Unlike other butterflies, Heliconius females feed on pollen as well as nectar. Studies have shown that females deprived of pollen can only produce about 15% of the number of eggs laid by females that have access to it.

Much of this information is derived from www.learnaboutbutterflies.com and theguardian.com/science: "Supergene controls butterfly mimicry"

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I really appreciate you taking time to look at my artwork. Thank you so much!

I am very concerned with our environment and have decided to donate any money I make from any sales of this image to the ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.....because the Earth needs a good lawyer! We all need to speak up and support efforts to protect our environment. We will not get a second chance!


**The watermark stamp will not appear on any purchased items. All images are protected by copyright law and cannot be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the artist.**

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Uploaded

October 24th, 2019

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