The Small Postman Butterfly

This is video I captured of the Small Postman butterfly while visiting the Tennessee Aquarium’s Butterfly Garden.

According to tnaqua.org (link is below) they’re one of the most common butterflies of their family. As pupa they trick possible predators, as they look like dead leaves hanging from branches. When they reach adulthood, these butterflies can live about 6 months!

Here’s more information found at butterfliesandmoths.org (link below):

Family: Nymphalidae
Identification: Forewing black with pink-red band; hindwing black with yellow stripe.
Wing Span: 2 5/8 - 3 1/8 inches (6.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day for females, and also mate with females as they emerge from the chrysalis. After mating, males place a repellant chemical on the female's abdomen to keep other males from mating with her. Eggs are laid singly on young tendrils and shoots, which the caterpillars eat.
Flight: June and August-September in South Texas, all year in the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various passion-vines (Passiflora species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar and pollen.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests and edges.
Range: Brazil north through Central America to Mexico; a rare stray to South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for rare stray.

Visit these websites for more information about this butterfly and others:

https://tnaqua.org/animal/postman-butterfly/

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Heliconius-erato

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