Zebra Longwing Butterfly Heliconius charithonia/charitonia (charithonius/charitonius)

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly, one of the Heliconian family, is native to a swathe of the middle Americas, from the southern US through Central America/Caribbean to northern South America.

The underside has a crimson red stripe at the shoulder and several crimson spots near the body.

In keeping with the name Zebra, the topside background colour is usually black and the stripes usually ivory white or pale yellow. Male and female have a similar appearance.

The stripes can be quite yellow or even greenish yellow.

The background can be chocolate brown, particularly (but not only) on faded older individuals.

Unusually for butterflies, but in common with other Heliconians, the adults eat pollen as well as drinking nectar from flowers.
Their resulting longevity (3 months as adult butterflies rather than 1-3 weeks), activity levels and bold colouring, make the species popular in captivity in Butterfly Houses.