Red Postman: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Butterflies of the Americas · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. This butterfly eats pollen. It gathers a little ball on its tongue, then coils and uncoils the tongue to work the goodness out.
2. Red postmen live long for butterflies: at least 20 days in the wild, and one was recorded at 186 days in captivity.
3. Its yellow eggs have about 16 ridges up and 11 across. Some plants copy this look so that females will not lay on them.
4. In Costa Rica, scientists painted red postmen to look like a form from Colombia. Predators attacked them more, as the local warning pattern was gone.
5. Males and females look the same, but their eyes differ. Females can see ultraviolet details that help them spot males of their own kind.

The quiz

1. What unusual food does the red postman eat?

• Tree bark
• Pollen (correct)
• Small snails
• Seeds

It collects pollen on its tongue and works it to release nutrients.

2. What is the longest a red postman has been recorded to live in captivity?

• 2 days
• 10 years
• 186 days (correct)
• 6 hours

One lived up to 186 days in captivity, far longer than most butterflies.

3. Why do some plants copy the look of red postman eggs?

• To stop females laying eggs on them (correct)
• To attract more butterflies
• To catch rain water
• To look like flowers

Fake eggs discourage females from laying on those plants.

4. What happened to red postmen painted to look like a Colombian form in Costa Rica?

• They found more food
• Predators left them alone
• Other butterflies followed them
• Predators attacked them more (correct)

Without the local warning pattern, predators did not recognise them as bad-tasting.

5. What can female red postmen see that males cannot?

• Infrared heat
• Ultraviolet details (correct)
• Colours in total darkness
• Objects behind them

Males lack one light-sensitive protein, so only females tell UV details apart.

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