# Tiger Longwing (*Heliconius hecale*) The Tiger Longwing is a beautiful butterfly with bright orange and black wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Golden Longwing, Hecale Longwing ![Tiger Longwing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Heliconius_hecale%252C_Jard%C3%ADn_Bot%C3%A1nico_de_M%C3%BAnich%252C_Alemania%252C_2013-01-27%252C_DD_04.JPG&width=800) Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heliconius_hecale%252C_Jard%C3%ADn_Bot%C3%A1nico_de_M%C3%BAnich%252C_Alemania%252C_2013-01-27%252C_DD_04.JPG) ## Appearance The Tiger Longwing has long, narrow wings, typically black with vibrant yellow, orange, or red bands and spots. Its unique wing shape and striking color patterns serve as a clear warning to predators, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Heliconius ## Interesting facts - Baby Tiger Longwings (caterpillars) munch on super poisonous passionflower leaves! - Male Tiger Longwings guard female cocoons, waiting for them to hatch! - These clever butterflies can remember their favorite flower patches for weeks! - They fly slowly, knowing their bright colors warn predators! ## Special abilities - **Toxic Taste:** Tiger Longwing can make itself taste bad by eating poisonous plants, which helps it avoid bird predators. - **Pollen Power-up:** Tiger Longwing has a unique tummy to digest pollen, which helps them live much longer than most butterflies. - **Warning Copycat:** Tiger Longwing can look like other toxic butterflies, which helps them all stay safe from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 35-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-180 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Tiger Longwings feast on nectar and pollen, while caterpillars munch on plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat passionflower leaves; adults consume nectar and pollen. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar (various flowers), Pollen (Passiflora), Pollen (Psiguria), Passionflower leaves (larvae) - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Maypop Passionflower (*Passiflora incarnata*) — Its larvae feed on the toxic leaves for defense. - **Pollinates:** Red Psiguria (*Psiguria umbrosa*) — The butterfly collects pollen and nectar from its flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** Red Postman (*Heliconius erato*) — They share warning colors in a mimicry ring, benefiting each other. - **Eaten by:** Black and Yellow Garden Spider (*Argiope aurantia*) — A generalist predator, though often deterred by toxicity. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tiger Longwing? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Tiger Longwing's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Tiger Longwing? 35-50 mm ### How long does Tiger Longwing live? 60-180 days ### How fast can Tiger Longwing fly? 15 km/h ### What does Tiger Longwing eat? Adult Tiger Longwings feast on nectar and pollen, while caterpillars munch on plant leaves. ### Where is Tiger Longwing usually found? Forests ### How does Tiger Longwing hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Tiger Longwing: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-longwing)