Heliconius numata

Heliconius numata, the numata longwing, is a brush-footed butterfly species native to most of South America, known for its mimicry of Melinaea butterflies. Both H. numata and the species of Melinaea it resembles are unpalatable to predators, making this a case of Müllerian mimicry, a mutualistic reinforcement of the same negative signal.

Heliconius numata

Heliconius numata, the numata longwing, is a brush-footed butterfly species native to most of South America, known for its mimicry of Melinaea butterflies. Both H. numata and the species of Melinaea it resembles are unpalatable to predators, making this a case of Müllerian mimicry, a mutualistic reinforcement of the same negative signal.