Eastern Tailed-Blue vs Heliconius Hecale Longwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Tailed-Blue Heliconius Hecale Longwing
Scientific Name Cupido comyntas Heliconius hecale
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Nymphalidae
Size 20-29 mm wingspan 70-85 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Tiny blue butterfly with thin tails on the hindwings and orange spots near the tail. One of the smallest and most common butterflies in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Its tiny hindwing tails mimic antennae, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end.

Heliconius Hecale Longwing

A large Heliconius butterfly with black wings marked by broad orange and yellow patches. It is one of the most widespread species in the genus and is a participant in multiple mimicry rings. Adults are unusually long-lived for butterflies, surviving up to six months.

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Did You Know?

It forms communal roosts of up to 30 individuals that return to the same branch every evening, providing safety in numbers.