BUTTERFLIES ON ABACO, BAHAMAS:  ZEBRA HELICONIANS

The Zebra Heliconian butterfly Heliconius charithonia is commonly known as the Zebra Longwing. These striking butterflies roost nightly in large colonies, a species behaviour that is a protective measure against predation. The colony provides safety in numbers (or at least reduces the probabilities that you will be the one to be eaten).

NOTES

The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1767 (12th edition of Systema Naturae).

The boldly striped black and white wing pattern is aposematic, warning off predators.

In 1996 the Zebra Longwing was appointed the State Butterfly of Florida.

Credits: all images by Charles Skinner, taken in the vicinity of the Delphi Club, Abaco, Bahamas

Credits: all images by Charles Skinner, taken in the vicinity of the Delphi Club, Abaco, Bahamas