of pollen. Parental care By foraging for pollen while developing eggs, female H. melpomene butterflies provide valuable amino acids and proteins to their offspring. This reduces the amount of time that the offspring must spend foraging during the larval stage, and thus decreases the chances of larval predation. While this extra foraging behavior on the part of the female increases her likelihood of being eaten, the warning colors highlighting her distaste protect her from would be predators. Oviposition Female H. melpomene butterflies recognize host plants by identifying the corresponding chemical compound using chemoreceptors located on her forelegs. When searching for a plant, the butterfly will drum her legs on the plant in order to detect the chemical compounds the plant releases. Once she has found the correct host plant, she will lay eggs singly on separate young leaves. Finding the correct host plant is crucial as H. melpomene larvae are adapted to only feed on certain Passiflora plants. Life cycle The eggs of H. melpomene are yellow and approximately 1.5 x 1 mm. They are mostly laid singly or rarely in small clusters on the young leaves of Passiflora plants. Caterpillars live in groups of two to three individuals and are white with black spots. Pupae are spiny and dark brown in color. The adults have black bodies with bright yellow or orange patterns on the wings. Female H. melpomene produce oocytes continuously throughout their life; this is due to the high nutrient diet the butterfly obtains from eating pollen. Closely related Heliconius species have been reported to have a maximum life span of six months, and it is likely that H. melpomene lives for a similar length of time. Protective coloration and behavior Mimicry Heliconius melpomene coevolved with its sister species, H. erato, each developing similar bright color patterns. The H. melpomene patterns correspond to at least 20 of the 27 H. erato subspecies. This coloration warns potential predators that the butterflies are distasteful and should be avoided; this is an example of aposematism. Since both species possess this acrid taste, they display what is known as Müllerian mimicry. Despite their easily confused coloration, these two species are able to exist in the same habitat range because they are reproductively isolated due to adaptations in the eyes of the butterflies that allow for better distinction between individuals. Chemical defense Both males and females release a strong odor detectable even