Numata Longwing vs Wallace's Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Numata Longwing | Wallace's Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heliconius numata | Heliconius wallacei |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 60-75 mm wingspan | 60-72 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Wallace's Longwing
A relatively rare Heliconius species with dark wings marked by a distinctive yellow band on the forewing and red patches at the base of the hindwing. Named after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It is primarily found in western Amazonian forests.
Did You Know?
Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection while studying insects in South America and Southeast Asia.