Adults commonly nectar at various flowers. Lantana is one of their favorites. Adults also collect pollen on their proboscis, that is digested.
The butterfly is found in forested areas.
After mating females will lay groups of eggs on the tender new shoots of the Passiflora vine. Caterpillars will eat and remain on hostplant until pupation.
In their range there are multiple generations making it possible to find adults year round.
In the genus Heliconius most species rely entirely on airborne chemicals to locate mates. Males of hecale, ismenius and cydno are attracted by pheromones to the pupae of con-specific females. The day before emergence a female pupa will usually have several males in close attendance.
