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Red Postman

Heliconius erato petiverana

Photo by bayucca
Published on Project Noah
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8.64261, -83.4647

Field Notes

Description:

Red Postman, Heliconius erato petiverana, Lapa Rios, Matapalo, Peninsula de Osa, Costa Rica, feeding on Euphorbia sp.

Notes:

Also called Small Postman, mimcrying the Postman Heliconius melpomene rosina which looks identical and can't be separated from Erato unless you have the native specimen or a ventral shot. Freshly captured Melpomene smells of fried-rice and Erato from Wytch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). And obviously Melpomene is the unpalatable/poisenous one (for birds), not Erato.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Ceci
You should include some of your great pictures in the picture contest =)
Ceci
Thank you for perceiving and sharing glimpses of nature and its amazing animals and colors =)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Paso Pacifico Survey
Mission
El mini-mundo de Costa Rica
Photographed
PublishedDecember 31, 2011

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