Ithomeis
| Ithomeis | |
|---|---|
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| Several subspecies of the geographically variable Ithomeis aurantiaca 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 | |
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Ithomeis is a butterfly genus in the butterfly family Riodinidae present only in the Neotropical ecozone.
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. I. a. satellites and I. a. astrea closely resemble species of Heliconius. Other subspecies include I. a. 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 800-1500 m. The eggs are pink, and laid in clusters of between 40 and 50 on the upperside of leaves. The larval food plant is Heisteria.
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