Heliconius Melpomene, Postman Butterfly on Pink Flowers
by Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Title
Heliconius Melpomene, Postman Butterfly on Pink Flowers
Artist
Venetia Featherstone-Witty
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Heliconius melpomene, the postman butterfly, common postman or simply postman, is a brightly colored butterfly found throughout Mexico and Central America. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Its coloration coevolved with a sister species H. erato as a warning to predators of its inedibility; this is an example of Müllerian mimicry. H. melpomene was one of the first butterfly species observed to forage for pollen, a behavior that is common in other groups but rare in butterflies. Because of the recent rapid evolutionary radiation of the genus Heliconius and overlapping of its habitat with other related species, H. melpomene has been the subject of extensive study on speciation and hybridization. These hybrids tend to have low fitness as they look different from the original species and no longer exhibit Müllerian mimicry.
Heliconius melpomene possesses ultraviolet vision which enhances its ability to distinguish subtle differences between markings on the wings of other butterflies. This allows the butterfly to avoid mating with other species that share the same geographic range.
FEATURED 8/26/20 in "Animal Photographs"
FEATURED 8/26/20 in "Macro Marvels"
FEATURED 8/27/20 in "Visions of Spring, Glances of Summer"
FEATURED 8/28/20 in "Bedroom Art Gallery"
FEATURED 8/29/20 in "Global Flowers"
FEATURED 8/29/20 in "Images That Excite You"
FEATURED 8/29/20 in "New FAA Uploads"
FEATURED 8/30/20 in "Your Very Best Photography"
FEATURED 8/30/20 in "All Stars"
FEATURED 8/30/20 in "FAA Portraits"
FEATURED 9/9/20 in "Wildlife One A Day"
FEATURED 7/17/21 in "Camera Art"
FEATURED 5/17/22 in "A Woman's Touch"
Uploaded
August 20th, 2020
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Viewed 756 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/19/2024 at 10:59 AM
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Comments (16)
Pat Goltz 27 Days Ago
Wonderful image! It pleases me that you identified the butterfly, too.
Venetia Featherstone-Witty replied:
Thank you Pat - I canit always identify them but it did work this time!
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art Group feature! You are invited to archive your work in the feature archive discussion. There are many other discussions in the group where you can promote your art even further more.
Barbie Corbett-Newmin
Congratulations! Your wonderful photograph is FEATURED on the home page of The 200 Club FAA/Pixels rising star photography group. To ensure that your noteworthy work remains visible between the next set of features and graduation, I invite you to post your photograph in the group's Features Archive 2021 discussion and/or other appropriate threads. Thank you for sharing your visions and for your participation in our unique club.
Gary F Richards
Revisiting this magnificent artwork! …voted for this one in the THE PROMISE OF SPRING contest!
Gary F Richards
Outstanding capture and excellent artwork! F/L … voted in the PLACES IN SPRINGTIME - SPRING LOGO CONTEST FOR NO...contest!
Venetia Featherstone-Witty replied:
Thank you so much GARY - you made my day! Have a great weekend and be safe and well! :)
Barbie Corbett-Newmin
Congratulations, your wonderful work is featured on the home page of the quadruple-curated group, All Stars. Featured images are changed weekly, so for your image to remain visible for potential buyers who visit the group later, please post your featured images in the featured discussion thread titled for 2020.
Venetia Featherstone-Witty replied:
Thank you very much Barbie for the 9th feature on this newly uploaded image! :)
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
BASANT SONI
The Extraordinary pleasing subject in this image ..filled with positivity + L f Venetia ..Even dried petals of such colorful flowers(Before Perishing) selected as Natural waste also play a role in the creation of Organic Art along with other Dried & sturdy any ingredients on Bark canvas. of CanaryArca Palm Trees. The concept of Art is; Eco-Friendly' The sole Idea of Art is recycling the Natural waste so as have Environment Protection.too.The message from Organic Art .."Nurture.. Nature so that Nature will Nurture all of us in the present scenario..." Valuable views, please Venetia ..?
Venetia Featherstone-Witty replied:
Thanks again Basant for your kind review, the l/f and I agree with all your sentiments regarding the care of nature - our planet sustains us and we need to take care of her!
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