Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Tiger Crescent
Eresia eunice
HÜBNER, 1807
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - MELITAEINI
subtribe -
PHYCIODINA
Eresia eunice,
Rio Pindayo, 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 nauplius
are black with bands or patches of white. Most however are strongly
marked in black and orange, and 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
eunice is distributed throughout much of tropical Central and South
America, from Nicaragua to Bolivia.
Eresia eunice,
male, Rio Pindayo, Peru
Habitats
This
sun-loving species is found in disturbed forest at altitudes between
about 100-800m, occupying forest edge habitats where there is a profusion of
low vegetation. Examples include river banks, forest clearings, glades and
roadsides.
Lifecycle
I have no
information specific to eunice 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.
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. At such times they tend to settle with their wings held erect,
or to fan their wings rapidly while flitting from spot to spot. When conditions
are cooler or overcast they sometimes bask with the wings
outspread.
Eresia eunice,
male, Rio Shima, Satipo, Peru
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