Heliconius action

Passion flower response

Eyesight 

Very good at recognising leaf shape of host plants which will provide good nutrition for their larvae. 

Plants vary leaf shape as they grow, more capable of this than any other plant species. P. suberosa is an extreme example of this. 

Smell

Very well developed sense of smell. Can smell the distinctive odours given off by some plants leaves from a distance.

Many passiflora (not just foetida) have ill odoured leaves. This is often more pronounced in young plants. 

Eggs

Laid on leaves, tendrils buds or leaf tips. Females will only lay where they think there are no existing eggs as larvae will eat eggs.

Mimics eggs on leaves, tendrils, buds or leaf tips. In some species growing tips droop to look a poor food source for prospective larvae.

Larvae

Eat leaves. Evolved to eat poisonous leaves & in turn become poisonous & stay that way through to adulthood as a brightly coloured butterfly to deter predators.

Leaves produced containing higher levels of poisonous cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids & other compounds. Also often pungent smell especially when young. Extrafloral nectaries, nectar glands, on stems & in leaves secrete sugar to attract ants which will destroy larvae & many other insects.l nectaries  (Never spray a passion flower to remove ants, they are a sign of good health.)

Adults

Feed on nectar & pollen from passion flowers & other plants. No other butterfly eats pollen.The protein rich pollen extends their lives to up to 6 months or more & they can lay up to 1000 eggs. In contrast most other butterflies only live up to a fortnight. Under optimum conditions egg to adult can take as litle as 3 weeks but may take much longer. 

Produce nectar & pollen to attract Heliconius adult butterflies which then pollinate flowers.