Erato Heliconian
Heliconius erato (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Identification: Forewing black with pink-red band; hindwing black with yellow stripe.
Wing Span: 2 5/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day for females, and also mate with females as they emerge from the chrysalis. After mating, males place a repellant chemical on the female's abdomen to keep other males from mating with her. Eggs are laid singly on young tendrils and shoots, which the caterpillars eat.
Flight: June and August-September in South Texas, all year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various passion-vines (Passiflora species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar and pollen.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests and edges.
Range: Brazil north through Central America to Mexico; a rare stray to South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 74 verified sightings
Observation date: Jan 31, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Belize District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Feb 13, 2024
Submitted by: Arden K. Powell
Region: Cortés, Honduras
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Apr 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2005
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Missouri, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 17, 2005
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2006
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Harris County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 04, 2024
Observation date: Dec 10, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 14, 2023
Observation date: Sep 22, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 22, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Nov 02, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Jan 21, 2023
Submitted by: Christine Harwood
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Jan 21, 2023
Submitted by: Christine Harwood
Region: Cayo District, Belize
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Apr 11, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Apr 29, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Feb 14, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 22, 2023
Observation date: Feb 01, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 06, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 30, 2023
Observation date: Jan 15, 2022
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 27, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 24, 2023
Observation date: Feb 16, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jan 15, 2020
Submitted by: Geni Certain
Region: Guerrero, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Dec 16, 2019
Submitted by: Areelyeqqs
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Feb 28, 2019
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
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