Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Mimic Crescent
Eresia pelonia
HEWITSON, 1852
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - MELITAEINI
subtribe -
PHYCIODINA
Eresia pelonia,
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 distinct
groups. Some e.g. 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
pelonia e.g. produces several forms, each of which strongly resembles a particular species of Ithomiine. Eresia pelonia callonia is for
instance
an extremely accurate "copy" of Hypothyris mansuetus meterus
which flies in the same area of Peru. The form illustrated above is
intermediate between E. p. pelonia and
E. p. apicalis, and is
a mimic of another sympatric
Ithomiine - Callithomia alexirrhoe thornax.
Despite
the similarities in colour and pattern the various forms of
pelonia can easily be distinguished from
their Ithomiine models by their antennae - these are long and drooping in
Ithomiines, but short and straight in Eresia. They
also behave very differently - Ithomiines have a slow floppy flight with deep
wing beats, and nearly always settle with wings closed.
Eresia however have an erratic jerky flight, and usually settle and bask
with wings fully outspread.
Eresia
pelonia is found in Ecuador, Peru and in Rondonia state, Brazil.
Eresia pelonia,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This species is found in
primary rainforest at altitudes between
about 200-800m, occupying forest edge habitats including river banks, small clearings,
light gaps and glades.
Lifecycle
I have no
data regarding pelonia but the lifecycle is
probably similar to that of
ithomioides,
in which the eggs are cream coloured, pear-shaped, and laid in 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
The butterfly is
usually seen in small glades and light gaps, where it settles with wings
outspread, to imbibe mineralised moisture from damp soil or logs.
Eresia pelonia,
Satipo, Peru
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