Heliconius ismenius telchinia (Latreille 1817)
The natural history of this rare species is not well known at La Selva. One of its host plants, P. ambigua, is very common. However, the primary host plant may be the rare (at La Selva) P. quadrangularis; perhaps that explains the rarity of the butterfly. Like other members of the numata-melpomene species group ("group II"), ismenius larvae are able to feed upon a wide range of Passiflora species, including members of Decaloba such as P. biflora. Range: Mexico to Ecuador.
H. ismenius perched on P. pittieri in lab garden.	Drinking from Hamelia flowers in lab garden.