Aoede Longwing (Neruda aoede (Hübner, 1813))
Scientific name: Neruda aoede (Hübner, 1813)
Common name: Aoede Longwing
French name:
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Rhopalocera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Heliconiinae
Wingspan: About 75mm.
Biotope: Forests.
Geographic area: Amazon Basin.
Flight time: All year round.
Number of generations :
Caterpillar:
Host plant: Plants belonging to the Passifloraceae family of Dilkea genus and Mitostemma genus.
Neruda aoede is a large and very dark brown butterfly with long wings. They are ornated with orange, red or copper markings depending on subspecies.
The basal area of the fore wings is orange. It is followed by white or yellow spots. The apex is dark brown.
The veins on the hind wings are highlighted with orange except on two subspecies.
The head and the thorax are black and marked with white dots.
The abdomen is dark brown. It shows parallel rows of yellow spots on each side. This particularity is used to tell Neruda aoede apart from the numerous species of the Heliconius genus which mimic it.

Heliconiinae sp. - French Guiana, France - March 5th 2012
[To know more about the Aoede Longwing]    [Top]
Heliconiinae sp.
I have shot this picture on the footpath starting next to the communal hut on the track of Sainte Élie.
My researches led me to Neruda aoede aoede or Heliconius melpomene thelxiopeia, knowing that there are maybe other possible species or subspecies.
As the abdomen is hidden on this picture, I have only listed this one as Heliconiinae sp.

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