Postman Butterfly
FamilyNymphalidae
Scientific NameHeliconius melpomene
RangeCentral/South America
HabitatForest edges
About the Postman Butterfly
Named for their habit of following the same route between flowers every day, like a postman on his rounds. They are a model species for studying mimicry and speciation. Their caterpillars feed on passionflower and absorb toxic compounds. They have been studied extensively for their ability to learn and remember visual patterns. Multiple forms exist with different wing patterns across their range.
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