Postman Forms - Variations on Standard Heliconius erato/melpomene
The Small Postman has many forms and subspecies over its range; most of the forms are mimicked by the Common Postman as well as other Heliconian Butterflies.
The nominal subspecies H. melpomene melpomene has no white bar on the topside but has a white bar on the underside hind wing.
Only two red spots visible on this one.
More variations - H. erato (4 red spots near body).
The black of the postmen sometimes has blue iridescence, especially on the Small Postman.
The red vertical bar on each forewing is near the normal form, redder and narrower than the pink one below.
Close to the nominal form but with a small white spot.
A broader, pinker forewing bar without piano-key edging.
A broader, pinker but shorter forewing bar and with piano-key edging.
The normal red forewing variant in shape and colour with piano key edging, plus, above right, H. erato cyrbia with a pink narrow bar with
blue iridescence and white edging.
In most or possibly all of these in the above rows there is still a white bar on the underside hind wing. (Above left and right have gathered pollen.)
The Postman sometimes wears a gasmask.
Bubbles here is a bit of an airhead.
Another variation on the theme keeps the white topside hind wing bar but loses the red forewing vertical
- with or without blue iridescence which fades to black and yellow with age. The form shown above left/centre is believed to be
H. erato chestertonii of Colombia. The underside is plain dark brown with, on the hind wing, a reddish-brown leading edge and a white bar
reaching the edge.
Links:
Small Postman
Common Postman
other Postman forms - rayed
other Postman-type forms
Postman Caterpillar