Chromosome numbers of heliconiine butterflies from Trinidad, West Indies (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

aploid numbers are given for all 14 of the Heliconiine butterflies found in Trinidad.Eleven have been examined in other parts of their range, and show no geographical variation in chromosome number.Three species show variation within or between individuals.Heliconius melpomene and H. erato vary so much in their color pattern that they are usually split into several species; there is no accompanying variation in chromosome number.Classification of the subfamily by karyotype matches well with the conventional classification.Most of the genera and subgenera have n = 28 to n = 31, which is typical of butterflies, but the very numerous subgenus Heliconius {Heliconius) has, with a few exceptions, n = 21.The chromosome numbers of all species in the subfamily examined by these and other authors are tabulated.The three previously unreported species are Philaethria dido, Heliconius ethillo, and H. ricini (all n = 21 ).