Heliconius Numata Perched On A Leaf In The Butterfly Garden Of The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Stock Photo

Pictured is a side view with wings closed of Heliconius numata perched on a leaf in the butterfly garden of the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth, Texas. It is also known as the Numata longwing. The are many subspecies. Heliconius numata is known for its mimicry of Melinaea butterflies. Both Heliconius 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.