Insect-plant interactions involve physiological adaptations by insects to secondary metabolic compounds synthetized by host plants, which are considered essential for the determination of resources partitioning of these insects. Data on such phenomena are important to understand evolutionary and ecological processes. However, climatic factors also seem to play a key role in affecting these patterns. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of seasonal variation on patterns of host plant use (Passifloraceae) by Heliconiini butterflies (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) at a Neotropical site in Southeastern Brazil. A total of 12 species of Heliconiini were reported, with nine of them being resident and using five species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) as larval host plants. Three host plant species accounted for 97% of the total use, and the use varied along the seasons highlighting the plasticity boundaries in Heliconiini and possible limiting factors.

昆虫-植物相互作用涉及昆虫对宿主植物合成的次级代谢化合物的生理适应，这被认为对于确定这些昆虫的资源分配至关重要。这些现象的数据对于理解进化和生态过程很重要。然而，气候因素似乎也在影响这些模式方面发挥着关键作用。本研究旨在调查季节性变化对巴西东南部新热带地区 Heliconiini 蝴蝶（蛱蝶科：Heliconiinae）的寄主植物使用模式（西番莲科）的影响。总共报告了 12 种 Heliconiini，其中 9 种是常驻植物并使用 5 种西番莲（西番莲科）作为幼虫寄主植物。三种寄主植物物种占总使用量的 97%，使用量随季节变化，突出了 Heliconiini 的可塑性边界和可能的限制因素。