Area of zoo
Butterfly house
Enclosure status
Open
IUCN status
Least Concern
Scientific name
Heliconius melpomene
Order
Lepidoptera
Type
Invertebrates
Family
Nymphalidae
Region
Mexico
Habitat
Forests
Postman butterfly facts
- The passion flower vines they eat as a caterpillar help them to store toxic chemicals they then retain for the rest of their lives as a deterrent from predators.
- This butterfly is poisonous and features red patterns on its wings as a warning to predators.
Postman butterfly identification
The postman butterfly has large, long wings with an orange stripe down each forewing. Try our Spotter's Guide on your next visit:
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What do postman butterflies eat?
As caterpillars they’ll eat passion flower vines, while adults drink nectar and eat pollen.
Where do postman butterflies live?
Native to Mexico, this species can also be found living in Central and South America.
Postman butterfly habitat
This species is associated with slow-flowing streams in pine or pine-oak forests.
Postman butterfly threats
Habitat loss and pollution.
Our Butterfly House
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Butterfly Paradise
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