Longwings participate in a fascinating behavior known as communal roosting.
Circadian communal roosting in butterflies occurs when a number gather to rest for the night, typically on a single branch. These communal roosters can be quite numerous and can consist of single or a variety of species.
Each evening, the air around the roosting site fills with butterflies as they work to find an open spot on the roost. The whole process takes about an hour to complete because the new arrivals tend to agitate the butterflies that perched earlier.
Unless the roosting site is disturbed, the same butterflies will visit that spot night after night. Strength in numbers is one of the benefits of communal roosting for Longwings.
*There are about 71 Longwing species worldwide.
Avg. Wingspan: 72 - 100 mm / 3 - 4 "
Diet: adults feed on nectar and pollen.
Longwing butterflies are known to consume pollen, which is why they have a long lifespan. (about six months, as compared to a more usual one - two months for most other butterfly species).
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera
* Being Brush-footed butterflies, Tiger Longwings have a short pair of fore legs that are used to taste food, and two pairs of longer rear legs that are used for propulsion.
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
