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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 39 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 04, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Dec 22, 2018
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2017
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Mar 10, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: Feb 15, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 09, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2013
Submitted by: Scott Alexander
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jan 13, 2013
Submitted by: Tee-tee
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Mar 13, 2015
Submitted by: tom murray
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: magnolyah
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: MaynorOvando
Region: Suchitepéquez, Guatemala
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 18, 2019
Observation date: Dec 23, 2017
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Dec 23, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 25, 2017
Observation date: Jul 03, 2016
Submitted by: Robalero
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2017
Observation date: Feb 06, 2015
Submitted by: HelenVG
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 18, 2015
Observation date: Mar 10, 2013
Submitted by: janeth13
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 03, 2015
Observation date: Feb 17, 2012
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Bocas del Toro Province, Panama
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 08, 2014
Observation date: Feb 15, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Apr 03, 2014
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: renaissance
Region: Durham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand
Verified date: Oct 18, 2013
Observation date: Mar 03, 2011
Submitted by: Walt Webb
Region: Stann Creek District, Belize
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: May 01, 2013
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