Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Common Crescent
Eresia clio
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - MELITAEINI
subtribe -
PHYCIODINA
Eresia clio,
Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The tribe Melitaeini is of worldwide distribution. It includes the
Crescents and Checkerspots of North America, and also many familiar European
species such as the Marsh, Spotted and Heath
Fritillaries.
Eresia
are closely related to
Castalia, Anthanassa and
Janatella, in fact that
these genera can only be distinguished by microscopic examination
of the male genitalia.
The
20 Eresia species fall into 2
groups. Some such as clio
are black with bands or patches of white. Most however are strongly
patterned in black and orange, and are regarded as Batesian mimics
of toxic Ithomiinae. Eresia eunice for example bears a
striking similarity to Ithomiines in the Mullerian "tiger complex", including Mechanitis
polymnia.
Eresia
clio ( also known by the invalid synonym Eresia
clara ) is found throughout most tropical and subtropical regions of
Central and South America, from Mexico to Bolivia.
Habitats
This
species is a common and widespread butterfly found at altitudes between
100-800m, where it occupies forest edge habitats where there is a profusion of
low vegetation.
Lifecycle
I have no
information specific to clio but the lifecycle is
probably similar to that of
ithomioides,
in which the eggs are cream coloured, and laid in untidy batches of up to
70 beneath leaves of Pilea
( Urticaceae ).
At least one other Eresia species -
coena, oviposits on Justicia
( Acanthaceae ). The larva of ithomioides is dark
green with orange spikes and white dots along the back. The head and legs are
orange. Its pupa is olive-brown, shiny, and suspended by the cremaster
from stems.
Eresia clio,
Catarata Bayoz, La Merced, Peru
Adult behaviour
Both
sexes nectar at flowers, but the butterfly is more often seen when males settle
in hot sunshine to imbibe moisture from sandbanks, river beds, drying pools or
peccary wallows. Often dozens can be found swarming in amidst aggregations of
Telenassa, Tegosa and
other Eresia species.
Eresia clio,
Catarata Bayoz, La Merced, Peru
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