Macrosoma heliconiaria

Macrosoma heliconiaria belongs to Hedylidae, a butterfly family within Papilionoidea. Guenée described it in 1858. [1]

The wings are grey-brown, with a white triangular mark along the forewing's leading edge and a translucent central area on the hindwing. The abdomen is slender. [2]

The species occurs from Central America into Amazonia. Guanacaste records come from rainforest localities, including sites at 96–460 m elevation. [1][2]

Guanacaste larvae rest along leaf midribs and chew irregular holes. In local rearings, pupae produced adults after approximately 10–15 days. [2]

Larvae in the Guanacaste inventory feed on Apeiba membranacea, a tropical tree in Malvaceae. [2]

Adults are active at night and are attracted to lights. [2]

A hearing organ lies at the base of each forewing. Modified veins support a tympanal membrane connected to three chordotonal sensory organs. Electrophysiological measurements found sensitivity strongest across approximately 40–80 kHz, within the ultrasonic range. [3]

In flight experiments, ultrasound elicited rapid, unpredictable changes of direction. The response supports an anti-bat role for hearing in this nocturnal butterfly. [3]