Blue-frosted Banner vs Numata Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue-frosted Banner | Numata Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catonephele numilia | Heliconius numata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 55-70 mm wingspan | 60-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela) | South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue-frosted Banner
A sexually dimorphic butterfly where males are velvety black with bright orange bands and females are dark brown with yellow spots. The sexes look so different they were originally described as separate species. It is common in forest gaps and along watercourses.
Did You Know?
Males and females look so different that they were classified as separate species for over a century until breeding experiments revealed their true identity.
Numata Longwing
A remarkable butterfly that exists in over a dozen wing pattern forms, each mimicking a different species of toxic Melinaea butterfly. Despite their different appearances, all forms belong to the same species. Wing pattern variation is controlled by a supergene on a single chromosome.
Did You Know?
Its wing pattern diversity is controlled by a chromosomal inversion that acts as a supergene, one of the best-studied examples of this genetic mechanism.