Page 235 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Nymphalidae
DISTRIBUTION The Andes, from southern Colombia to Bolivia
HABITAT Humid and semi-humid cloud forests and forest borders at
2,625–6,600 ft (800–2000 m) elevation
HOST PLANTS Passion vine (Passi ora spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar whose natural history, however, is little known
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened

ADULT WINGSPAN
3 ⁄ –3
⁄ in (78–84 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅛–2⅜ in (55–60 mm)
HELICONIUS TELESIPHE
TELESIPHE LONGWING 233

(DOUBLEDAY, 1847)

The Telesiphe Longwing caterpillar hatches from an egg laid
singly on the newly opening leaves or young tendrils of the
host plant; the female may, however, return multiple times to
the same plant, leaving behind several eggs. First instar larvae
consume most of their eggshell before beginning to feed on
nearby leaf tissue. While the caterpillars are generally solitary at
all instars, the adults sometimes gather in small groups to spend
the night hanging together in loose clusters from the tip of a thin
branch or vine. Prior to eclosion of a female pupa, males will also
congregate in the area, vying for the chance to copulate with the
newly emerged female.

While ovipositing, the fluttery, hovering flight of Telesiphe
Longwing females is distinctive, and watching for this
characteristic behavior is often the best way to nd host plants

and caterpillars. With their paired, facial, black spots on the front
of the head, the black-spotted larvae are typical of other, related
species of Heliconius caterpillars, all of which also feed on
Passi ora plants.

The Telesiphe Longwing caterpillar is creamy
white to yellow with irregularly shaped, black
spots along the sides, which create broad stripes,
and smaller, paler, blackish spots across the
dorsum. Each segment bears several long,
unbranched, black scoli that, along with the
long, slightly curved pair of scoli on the head,
give the caterpillar a spiky look. Actual size