Heliconius Hecale Longwing vs Snowberry Clearwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Heliconius Hecale Longwing Snowberry Clearwing
Scientific Name Heliconius hecale Hemaris diffinis
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Sphingidae
Size 70-85 mm wingspan 32-50 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil) North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

💡

Did You Know?

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

Snowberry Clearwing

A bumblebee mimic with largely transparent wings bordered in dark brown, a fuzzy olive thorax, and black and yellow banding on the abdomen. It feeds while hovering at flowers.

💡

Did You Know?

This moth is born with scales on its wings but they fall off during the first flight, leaving the characteristic clear windows.