Heliconius pardalinus maeon
Fairly common(?) up to 550 m. Found inside forest; attracted to bait. Other subspecies may occur in some areas.
Similar species: H. numata lyrcaus and H. hecale sisyphus both have mostly solid black VFW apex, among other differences. Others? Melinaea species have longer antennae and red on 'back of neck'; Eueides have shorter antennae.
550 m., Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2022-Oct04
550 m. Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2022-Oct31
Heliconius hecale sisyphus
Fairly common up to 1050 m. Attracted to bait. Other subspecies may occur in some areas.
Similar species: H. numata lyrcaus and H. pardalinus maeon both lack the narrow black-and-white HW margin (best seen on V), among other differences. Note also two white spots near VHW apex, though they are sometimes obscure. Others? Melinaea species have longer antennae and red on 'back of neck'; Eueides have shorter antennae.
750 m., Kuporo Lodge, Quispicanchi
2021-Aug11
750 m., Kuporo Lodge, Quispicanchi
2021-Aug01
750 m., Kuporo Lodge, Quispicanchi
2021-Aug11
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-Nov21
Heliconius numata aristiona
Common 650-1100 m., mostly at higher elevation than subspecies lyrcaeus. Usually found in forest. Attracted to bait, spitwads, and flowers.
Similar species: Occurs together with Mechanitis mazaeus holmgreni which can be similarly patterned; note that it has red on the 'back of the neck' and has narrower wings. Melinaea species have longer antennae and red on 'back of neck.'
750 m., Kuporo Lodge, Quispicanchi
2021-Aug01
1100 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2017-Oct28
Heliconius numata lyrcaeus
Uncommon(?) up to 1050 m., generally outnumbered at higher elevations by subspecies aristiona. Found in forest; attracted to bait. Addtional subspecies may occur in some areas.
Similar species: Compare with H. pardalinus maeon (more orange around VFW apex) and H. hecale sisyphus (has a narrow black-and-white margin VHW). Melinaea species have longer antennae and red on 'back of neck'; Eueides have shorter antennae.
550 m., Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2016-Nov14
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2022-Sep28
Heliconius melpomene euryades
Uncommon(?) at 1200 m., probably higher and lower. Found in seasonally dry forest (only?). Attracted to bait.
Similar species: Very similar to H. erato amphitrite, which has two yellow (not red) basal dots VHW and a shorter lowest streak in DFW red patch(?).
1200 m., Quebrada Honda, Calca
2021-Aug26
1200 m., Quebrada Honda, Calca
2021-Aug26
Heliconius melpomene schunkei
Common 550(lower?)-1350 m. Attracted to bait.
Similar species: Black bar across HW, at base of red 'rays,' distinguishes it from several including H. erato luscombei. H. timareta timoratus (I have no Cusco records; it may not occur) has a smaller whitish DFW patch, and H. elevatus (I have no Cusco records) is potentially also very similar.
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2022-Sep28
1350 m., San Pedro, Paucartambo
2016-Nov08
550 m., Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2019-Oct09
Heliconius erato amphitrite
Uncommon at 1200 m., probably higher and lower. Found in seasonlally dry forest (only?).
Similar species: See H. melpomene euryades.
1200 m., Quebrada Honda, Calca
2021-Aug26
1200 m., Quebrada Honda, Calca
2021-Aug26
Heliconius erato luscombei
Fairly common up to 1050 m. Attracted to bait. Additional subspecies may occur in other areas.
Similar species: See H. melpomene schunkei. Lacks FW apical spots of H. burneyi koenigi. Also similar to H. demeter and H. xanthocles (I have no Cusco records of either).
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-May14
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2014-Oct26
Heliconius burneyi koenigi
Uncommon up to 1100 m. Attracted to bait. Other subspecies may occur, especially in lowlands.
Similar species: Only the red-rayed form of H. doris is similar (all others lack FW apical spots); on doris, apical spots are much more extensive and V has white marginal rays.
550 m. Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2022-Oct31
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-May14
Heliconius telestiphe telesiphe
Common 1000-2200 m. Puddles; attracted to bait.
Similar species: Podotricha telesiphe telesiphe has angular FW and a very different V pattern, among other differences.
1350 m., San Pedro, Paucartambo
2016-May16
2200 m., Alto Combamayo, Calca
2021-Sep01
Heliconius leucadia
Uncommon up to 550 m. Attracted to bait. I'm not sure which subspecies occur(s) in Cusco.
Similar species: H. sara sara is very similar on D but has less red on VHW, especially shorter basal streaks. See also H. wallacei flavescens.
(230 m., Lago Soledad, Madre de Dios)
2017-Oct05
550 m. Villa Carmen, Paucartambo
2022-Oct31
Heliconius sara sara
Fairly common up to 1350 m. Attracted to bait. Usually found at forest edge.
Similar species: See H. leucadia. D very similar to H. wallacei flavescens, but on fresh indiviuals note faint long white dashes (shorter on wallacei) on HW fringe; VHW pattern very different.
1100 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2017-Oct28
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2021-Nov22
Heliconius wallacei flavescens
Common up to 1350 m. Attracted to bait; puddles.
Similar species: D very like H. sara sara but H. leucadia but faint white dashes on DHW fringe are shorter (only useful on fresh individuals); VHW pattern is very different.
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2021-Nov16
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2019-Oct06
Heliconius doris
Uncommon(?) up to 1100 m. Puddles; attracted to bait. Variable; I have never seen the red-rayed form in Cusco, but it might occur. I'm not sure which subspecies occur(s) in Cusco.
Similar species: See H. burneyi koenigi (similar to red-rayed form).
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-Nov11
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-May14
1050 m., Lower Manu Road, Paucartambo
2016-Nov11
(1050 m., Playa Mariposa, San Martin)
2018-Sep28
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