Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae
Eueides isabella Geyer, 1832
Isabella's Heliconian
Eueides isabella Geyer, 1832
Isabella's Heliconian
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 62-86mm. Sexes similar but separable on the underside pattern as the black markings of the males are replaced by brown in females. It is smaller than Zebra Heliconian Heliconius charithonia and the orange rather than yellow bands make it immediately recognisable. Note that the pale yellow markings on the above photo taken in Trinidad are replaced by pale orange in Cuba.
Range: Mexico south to Brazil. In the Caribbean it is known only from Cuba, Hispaniola and Trinidad.
Status: Rare in Cuba where it is found in forests only in the far east of the island in and around the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park near Moa. The subspecies cleobaea is endemic to Cuba. A separate subspecies is found on Hispaniola and many others in South and Central America.
Nectar Plants: Lantana and Bidens pilosa.
Larval Foodplants: Various members of the genus Passiflora.
Range: Mexico south to Brazil. In the Caribbean it is known only from Cuba, Hispaniola and Trinidad.
Status: Rare in Cuba where it is found in forests only in the far east of the island in and around the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park near Moa. The subspecies cleobaea is endemic to Cuba. A separate subspecies is found on Hispaniola and many others in South and Central America.
Nectar Plants: Lantana and Bidens pilosa.
Larval Foodplants: Various members of the genus Passiflora.
Foodplants and Habitat