These insects, which are strongly “protected,” abound in the forests of tropical America. There are many species, but only one occurs in our region.
Genus HELICONIUS Latreille
PL. IV
(1) Heliconius charithonius (Linnæus). [Plate IV], ♀ (The Zebra).
The figure suffices for identification. The caterpillar feeds upon the foliage of different species of Passion-flower. Common in the hot parts of the Gulf States, thence ranging all over the American tropics. Expanse 2.5 to 3.5 inches.
Subfamily NYMPHALINÆ
(The Nymphs).
The butterflies belonging to this subfamily are usually medium-sized or large, although some are very small. Antennæ usually as long as, or longer than, the abdomen, more or less heavily clothed with scales. Palpi stout, densely clothed with hairs and scales. Thorax stout or very robust. Fore wings relatively broad, except in certain forms which mimic the Heliconiinæ, produced at apex, more or less excavated on outer margin; discoidal cell generally less than half the length of wing, and in most genera closed; costal vein terminating behind the middle of the front margin of the wing; the two inner subcostal nervules given off before, the outer subcostals beyond, the end of the cell. Hind wings rounded, or angulated, with the outer border either rounded, scalloped, or tailed, the inner border always forming a channel for the reception of the abdomen; discoidal cell often open, or closed by an almost imperceptible veinlet. Eggs conoid, barrel-shaped, or globular, variously ornamented. Larva when hatched with minute wart-like eminences, each bearing a hair, the hairs in later stages being replaced in many forms by branching spines. Chrysalis suspended, variously ornamented, often having on the dorsal surface raised eminences, and the head bifurcate.
There are about thirty genera, containing somewhat less than two hundred species, which belong to this subfamily in the United States.