They are abundant as far south as Ecuador and Venezuela and as far north as southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

H. ismenius's nickname is derived from its long wing structure as well as the beautiful burnt orange and black stripes.

According to Beltran, the pupae were observed to have a strong bowed thorax with five pairs of black spine in the abdomen.

The host plants popular for H. ismenius are found in subgenera Distephana and genera Granadilla.

[2] Heliconius ismenius shares the appearance of a number of other similar looking butterflies, of both the same genus[6][7] and other genera (Melinaea, Tithorea) as a member of the "tiger" Müllerian mimicry ring.