Attractions > Butterfly World > Species Guide > Golden Helicon

Golden Helicon

Common Name: Golden Helicon
Scientific Name: Heliconius hecale
Wingspan: 9-10 cm
Location: They can be found throughout Central and tropical South America

The Golden Helicon is a member of the Heliconiidae family. They prefer to live in a tropical environment. Passion vines (Passiflora) are their host plants. By eating the leaves of this plant the butterfly becomes poisonous to birds, not enough to kill them but enough to prevent this butterfly being bothered again.