Page 234 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION North and South America, from southern United States and the
DIS
Caribbean south to northern Peru
HABITAT
HABITAT T Forests and meadows, including disturbed habitats
HABIT
A
HOST PLANTS
HOS
HOST PLANTS S Passion vine (Passi ora spp.)
T PLANT
NO
NOTE Spiny caterpillar that is unpalatable
TE
NOTE
T
A
CONSERV
TION S
A
TUS
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common
ADULT WINGSPAN
2–4 in (50–100 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 –2 in (40–50 mm)
HELICONIUS CHARITHONIA
ZEBRA LONGWING
232
(LINNAEUS, 1767)
Zebra Longwing caterpillars are found on the stems or underside
of leaves of various species of passion vine. The plants are
toxic, so ingesting them makes the larvae distasteful, providing
a chemical defense against predators. Their conspicuous,
contrasting black-and-white patterning advertises their
unpalatable taste. Additionally, the caterpillars are protected by

sharp, black spines. There are thought to be ve larval instars,
and development from egg to adult takes around a month.

Pupation occurs on or near the host plant, and the pupae are
visited by Zebra Longwing males. They frequently sit on the
pupae, competing with each other to insert their abdomen and

mate before a female butter y ecloses; pheromones determine
the adult’s sex at later stages of pupal development. Mated
females then disperse long distances to lay eggs on as many
passion vines as possible. Like all Heliconius species, Zebra
Longwing adults feed not only on nectar but also on pollen,
which allows them to live longer than other butter ies.

The Zebra Longwing caterpillar is white, with a
white head and long, black spines. There are also
two black dots on the front of the head, two on
the sides, and several rows of dots on the body.
This coloration is clearly aposematic, making the
caterpillar stand out to naive predators.
Actual size