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A Tiger Heliconian resting on a flower. (Stephanie Lam/The Epoch Times)
The Tiger Heliconian or Ismenius Tiger, Heliconius ismenius, is a butterfly found in the hot and humid forests of Central America and along the Pacific coast of South America as far as northern Peru.
More commonly known as the tiger-striped longwing butterfly, the species has wings with beautiful orange and black patterns resembling the stripes of its namesake feline.
These butterflies are toxic, and their tiger stripes warn potential predators to think twice before snacking on them.
Tiger Heliconians tend to stay close to certain plants—their host plants—throughout their nine-month life spans.
When food—primarily the pollen of Psiguria and Gurania flowers—becomes rare, Tiger Heliconians are known to actively chase away other butterflies from their territory.
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