Zebra Butterfly

They are estimated thirty-nine species of butterflies that are integrated in the genus Heliconius.
The charithonia Heliconius species is present in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the northern countries of South America, showing the privilege of having been declared in 1996 the official state butterfly of Florida.
This beautiful Lepidoptera reaches ten inches in size, and its unusually elongated narrow wings. The wing coloration is black with whitish to yellowish striped justifies the name "zebra butterfly" that is popularly known. The antennas are thin and elongated.
There are six subspecies:
- Charithonia.
- Peruviana.
- Punctata.
- Simulator.
- Tuckeri.
- Vasquezae.
Flight is elegant and measured and when it settles, usually keep the wings.
Its preferred habitat is the rainforest, grasslands and forest edges, usually at altitudes below 1200 meters.
The caterpillar feeds on several species of plants of the genus Passiflora and adult nectar and pollen from flowers. This ability to feed imago, which does not occur in all species of butterflies, you can enjoy a long life, which can be up to nine months.
The butterfly reproductive process also has specific zebra. Males typically locate pupae females by pheromones emitted and, after competing with each other, coupled with those when, recently left the cocoon, still stand still, waiting for them to dry and unfold the wings. They even break the protective capsule, initiating the sexual encounter as the genital organs of the female are accessible.