Heliconius metharme is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It was described by Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1849.[1] It is widespread in the Amazon basin, Venezuela and the Guianas. The habitat consists of deep forests.

Heliconius metharme
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Heliconius
Species:
H. metharme
Binomial name
Heliconius metharme
(Erichson, 1849)
Synonyms
  • Heliconia metharme Erichson, [1849]
  • Neruda metharme (Erichson, [1849])
  • Heliconia thetis Boisduval, 1870
  • Heliconius anaclia Riffarth, 1901

It is part of a mimicry ring with Heliconius sara, Heliconius wallacei and Heliconius doris.

The larvae are gregarious and feed on Dilkea and Mitostemma species.[2]

Subspecies

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  • Heliconius metharme metharme — Guyana
  • Heliconius metharme makiritare (Brown & Fernández, 1985) — Venezuela
  • Heliconius metharme perseis Stichel, 1923 — Colombia

References

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  1. ^ Savela, Markku. "Heliconius metharme (Erichson, [1849])". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  2. ^ " Neruda metharme (Erichson 1849)" at Tree of Life Web Project