Ithomeis

Ithomeis
Several subspecies of the geographically variable Ithomeis aurantiaca depicted in Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Riodinidae
Subfamily: Riodininae
Genus: Ithomeis
Bates, 1862
Synonyms
  • Ithomiopsis C. & R. Felder, 1862

Ithomeis is a genus in the butterfly family Riodinidae present only in the Neotropical ecozone.

Species

Biology

Both species are mimics. The pattern of black, orange and large translucent areas found in Ithomeis is shared by toxic genera from the Ithomiinae (examples are Ithomia and Oleria) and a number of toxic Arctiidae.The pattern is also shared with several other Riodinidae genera (examples are Stalachtis, Ithomiola and Brachyglenis) which may be part of mimicry rings.

Ithomeis aurantiaca has several subspecies, some are very different in appearance and were formerly regarded as full species. Ithomeis aurantiaca satellites and Ithomeis aurantiaca astrea closely resemble species of Heliconius. Other subspecies include Ithomeis aurantiaca mimica and I a. stalachtina, which have extensive orange markings and much reduced hyaline areas and these mimic toxic Ithomiines in the genera Pseudoscada, Hyposcada and Hypoleria.The different subspecies mimic models which share their distribution.

The habitat is tropical forest including cloud forest at 800-1500m. The eggs are pink, and laid in clusters of between 40-50 on the upperside of leaves. The larval foodplant is Heisteria.

Sources

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ithomeis.
Wikispecies has information related to: Ithomeis
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