Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Polina Crescent
Eresia polina
HEWITSON, 1852
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - MELITAEINI
subtribe -
PHYCIODINA
Eresia polina,
male,
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. polina
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
polina is distributed from Colombia and Venezuela to Bolivia.
Eresia polina,
female,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This
species is widespread and fairly common at altitudes between
200-1200m, occupying disturbed forest edge habitats where there is a profusion of
low vegetation.
Lifecycle
I have no
information specific to polina but the lifecycle is
probably similar to that of
ithomioides,
in which the pear-shaped eggs are cream coloured, 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
Both
sexes nectar at flowers, but the butterfly is more often seen when males settle
in hot sunshine to imbibe moisture from sandbanks, river beaches or
peccary wallows. They usually feed and bask with the forewings swept back, so
the prominent creamy spots on the forewings align with the bar across the
hindwings.
Eresia polina,
female,
Satipo, Peru
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