Heliconius melpomene
Videos
Heliconius melpomene, the postman butterfly, common postman or simply postman, is a brightly colored, geographically variable butterfly species found throughout Central and South America. It was first
Postman Cundinamarca
interracial hybrid, probably between H. melpomene malleti and H. melpomene plesseni- dorsal side
a different hybrid, likely between H. melpomene melpomene and one of the rayed races — ventral view
H. m. penelope, male, dorsal
Proboscis
Videos
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking.
Heliconius melpomene
…is a rarely utilized but efficient protein source for Lepidoptera species. While foraging for pollen, adults accumulate pollen on the end of their proboscis and the grains stay there for long periods of time. These pollen grains are transferred to the stamen of another plant the butterfly visits while…
A syrphid fly using its proboscis to reach the nectar of a flower
Convolvulus hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) feeding with extended proboscis
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) unfurling its proboscis to feed on Zinnia
Proboscis of a predatory marine snail Mitra mitra.