[1] Heliconius hermathena is distinguished by its red, black, and yellow wing color.

During the Quaternary climatic cycles, resulting forest islands in the American tropics produced a widespread of evolutionary new species and eventually these forests branched out, during wetter periods, to meet with sister zones.

However, as these Neotropical forests reach their peak expansions, natural scrubs and field vegetation declined making them a habitat for high-light, low-humidity, and often harsh conditions.

They exhibit a non-mimetic pattern because of their strong distinction from other butterflies in the Amazonia or Neotropical areas.

Male butterflies dominate the population and are depicted with greater wing sizes than the females while both sexes display a survivorship curve of Type 2.