Zebra Longwing / Heliconius charithonius

Photographed this beautiful butterfly at the Calgary Zoo, way back in May. They always look very smart and elegant, especially against the rich green foliage.

"Heliconius charithonia, commonly known as the Zebra Longwing or Zebra Heliconian, is a species of butterfly belonging to the subfamily Heliconiinae of the Nymphalidae. It was declared the official butterfly for the state of Florida in the United States in 1996.

The butterfly ranges over parts of North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. In North America the butterfly is found in the southern parts of the United States including Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North and South Carolina. In South and Central America, it has been recorded in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Because of their relatively long lifespan and their activity throughout the day, this is a popular species with butterfly houses." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliconius_charithonia

Was out walking all morning in the comparatively new Clearwater Park, off Highway 8 in the city.