List with some Photos of South America Butterflies by Armas Hill Brushfoots in Nymphalidae

PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-888-721-3555
or 302/529-1876

Part 4 of a List
with some Photos
of

South America
Butterflies
and Moths

Noting those during
Focus On Nature Tours

in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Fourth Part of a List of South America Butterflies in 6 Parts,
compiled by Armas Hill

Here, in Part #4: Nymphalidae, the Brushfoots

Some in NYMPHALIDAE, the CLEARWINGS and most of the SATYRS, are in:
PART #5 OF THIS LIST OF SOUTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLIES

Among Butterfly groupings in this list below, links to these:

Subfamily CHARAXINAE, Tribe PREPONINI

with the genera: Agrias, Archaeoprepona, Noreppa, Prepona

Leaf Butterflies: Subfamily CHARAXINAE, Tribe ANAEINI

with the genera: Anaeomorpha, Coenophlebia, Consul, Fountainea, Hypna, Memphis, Polygrapha, Siderone, Zaretis

Emperors: Subfamily APATURINAE with the genus: Doxocopa

Snout: Subfamily LIBYTHEINAE with the genus Libytheana

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe BIBLIDINI with the genera: Biblis, Mestra, Vila

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe COEINI with the genera: Baeotus, Historis

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe NYMPHALINI

with the genera: Colobura, Hypanartia, Pycina, Smyrna, Tigridia, Vanessa

Crackers & allies: Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe AGERONIINI

with the genera: Batesia, Ectima, Hamadryas, Panacea

Purplewings & allies: Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe EPICALLINI

with the genera: Catonephele, Cybdelis, Eunica, Myscella, Nessaea

Daggerwings: Subfamily CYRESTINAE with the genus Marpesia

Sailors: Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe EUBAGINI with the genus Dynamine

"Eighty-Eight" Butterflies: Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe CALLICORINI

with the genera: Antigonis, Callicore, Catacore, Diaethria, Haematera, Mesotaenia,
Orophila, Paulogramma, Perisama

Banners & allies: Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe EPIPHILINI

with the genera: Asterope, Epiphile, Nica, Peria, Pyrrhogyra, Temenis

Sisters: Subfamily LIMENITIDINAE, Tribe LIMENITIDINI with the genus Adelpha

Peacocks, Page, Malachite: Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe VICTORININI

with the genera: Anartia, Metamorpha, Siproeta

Buckeyes, Mimic: Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe JUNONIINI

with the genera: Junonia, Hypolimnas

Patches, Checkerspots, Crescents: Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe MELITAEINI

with the genera: Anthanassa, Castilia, Chlosyne, Dagon, Eresia, Gnathotriche, Higginsius,
Janatella, Mazia, Ortilia, Phystis, Tegosa, Telenassa

Longwings: Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe HELICONIINI

with the genera: Agraulis, Dione, Dryadula, Dryas, Eueides, Heliconius, Laparus, Neruda, Philaethria, Podotricha

Fritillaries: Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe ARGYNNINI with the genera: Euptoita, Yramea

Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe ACRAEINI with the genera: Abananote, Actinote, Altinote

Milkweed Butterflies: Subfamily DANAINAE, Tribe DANAINI

with the genera: Danaus, Ituna, Lycorea

Morphos: Subfamily SATYRINAE, Tribe MORPHINI with the genera: Antirrhea, Caerois, Morpho

Owl Butterflies: Subfamily SATYRINAE, Tribe BRASSOLINI

with the genera: Bia, Brassolis, Caligo, Catoblepia, Dasyophthalma, Dynastor, Eryphanis, Narope,
Opoptera, Opsiphanes, Selenophanes

Links to other South America Butterfly groupings in this list:

Part #1 - Swallowtails (Papilionidae)

Part #2 - Whites, Yellows, Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Part #3 - Hairstreaks, Blues (Lycaenidae) & Metalmarks (Riodinidae)

Part #5 - Clearwings (Ithomiini) & Satyrs (Satyrinae)

Part #6 - Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Some Photos of Butterflies and Moths during FONT Tours in Ecuador

In South America, the countries of Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador each have a great number of butterfly species.
Ecuador has the greatest concentration of species per kilometer. In that country, there are said to be 2,726 species of butterflies.

An Orange Daggerwing photographed during
the FONT tour in Ecuador in April 2013
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Codes relating to illustrations in various books:

Numbers noted as (AZ:xx) refer to pages in "Butterflies of Arizona - A Photographic Guide", by Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin, & Hank Brodkin (with fine photographs).

Numbers noted as (BB:xx) refer to pages in "Butterflies of Buenos Aires (Argentina)", by Gustavo Canals

Numbers noted as (C:xx) refer to pages in "A World of Butterflies", with text by Brian Cassie, and photographs (superb) by Kjell Sandved

Numbers noted as (D1:xx) refer to plates in "The Butterflies of Costa Rica and their Natural History (Volume 1): Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae", by Philip J. DeVries

Numbers noted as (DV:xx) refer to pages in "Butterflies Of South America", by Bernard D'Abrera

Numbers noted as (EBE:xx) refer to pages in "Ecuador's Butterfly Ecology", by Xavier Silva.

Numbers noted as (F:xx) refer to pages in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies", by Dr. John Feltwell

Numbers noted as (K:xx) refer to pages in the "Kaufman Focus Guide to Butterflies of North America", by Jim Brock & Kenn Kaufman

Numbers noted as (MCA:xx) refer to pages in "A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico & Central America" by Jeffrey Glassberg

Numbers noted as (MM:xx) refer to pages in "Mariposas (Butterflies) of Missiones (Argentina)", by Gustavo Canals

Numbers noted as (PE:xx) refer to plates in the "Peterson Field Guides to Eastern Butterflies", by Paul Opler & Vichai Malikul, 1998 edition. Those noted as (PEp:xx) refer to a page with a photograph.

Numbers noted as (PW:xx) refer to plates in the "Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies", by Paul Opler & illustrated by Amy Bartlett Wright, 1999 edition. Those noted as (PWp:xx) refer to a page with a photograph.

Numbers noted as (RG:xx) refer to pages in "Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley" by Roland Wauer.

Numbers noted as (S:xx) refer to pages in the "Smithsonian Handbook, Butterflies & Moths", by David Carter.

Numbers noted as (WGC:xxx) refer to pages in "A Wildlife Guide to Chile", by Sharon Chester.

Country Codes:

AR: in Argentina
ba:   province of Buenos Aires
ne:   northeast Argentina, including Iguazu Falls   (ARne also on Brazilian side at Iguazu Falls)
BR: in Brazil
am:   Amazonian region
mg:   Mato Grosso, including the Pantanal and north to Alta Floresta / Rio Cristalino
se:    southeast Brazil
CH: in Chile
EC: in Ecuador am: Amazonian nw: northwest EC
VE: in Venezuela

Butterflies observed during FONT tours noted by an (*) after the 2-letter country code.

(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website

Other Links:

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in South America in:
Brazil Ecuador Uruguay Venezuela Argentina Chile

Lists & Photo Galleries of BIRDS, including those during FONT Tours in South America

Lists & Photo Galleries of MAMMALS, relating to FONT Tours in South America

Lists of Photo Galleries of AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES, including those during FONT Tours in South America

Alphabetical Directory of Butterflies by Genus of those with Photos in the FONT Website

Directory of Photos in this Website

List of South American Butterflies, Part #4

        Family NYMPHALIDAE: BRUSHFOOTS

          Cosmopolitan, with subfamilies range from 8 to 25, depending upon taxonomic treatment.

          This is the most diverse family of butterflies, with approximately 6,000 known species worldwide.
          Brushfoot butterflies appear 4 rather than 6-legged as their 2 front legs are much reduced.

          Subfamily CHARAXINAE, Tribe PREPONINI

         Butterflies in PREPONINI have irridescent blue colors on the upperside of their wings.
          Most species are in primary or secondary forests, where they usually fly up in the canopy.
          Sometimes they are in open areas, where they can be found feeding on decaying fruits and other organic matter.
          The butterflies always feed and rest with their wings firmly closed. But if disturbed they sometimes give
          a very rapid flick of the wings, displaying their vivid coloration on their upperside.

          Genus AGRIAS

          Butterflies in AGRIAS spend most of their time, as noted above, in the forest canopy.
          They are attracted to rotting fruits, fish, and mammal dung.
          AGRIAS are strong fliers and very shy.
          Their main flying time seems to be between October and March to April.

          The males of all AGRIAS species have prominent yellow tufts of androconial scales on the hindwings.

          The AGRIAS are among the most beautiful of all butterflies, said to be the "true gems of the insect world".

Agrias aedon ______ EC (DV1:13) (MCA:118)
Agrias aedon aedon ______ subspecies in Colombia, Venezuela
Agrias aedon salvini ______ subspecies in Colombia
Agrias aedon pepitoensis ______ EC subspecies in western Colombia and Ecuador
GREAT AGRIAS (or AEDON AGRIAS)
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela and Ecuador)

There is another subspecies of Agrias aedon in Mexico and Central America, Agrias aedon rodriguesi.

Agrias amydon ______ BR EC (DV1:13) (F:115) (MCA:118)
Agrias amydon amydon ______ subspecies in Colombia
Agrias amydon bogotana ______ subspecies in northeast Colombia and western Venezuela
Agrias amydon aurantiaca ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Para and Amazonas, and in Surinam and Venezuela
Agrias amydon uniformis ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Roraima and southern Venezuela
Agrias amydon excelsior ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Amazonas
Agrias amydon rubella ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Amazonas
Agrias amydon amydonius ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Amazonas, Colombia, and Peru in and near Loreto and Iquitos
Agrias amydon frontina ______ EC subspecies in western Colombia and northwest Ecuador
Agrias amydon zenodorus ______ EC subspecies in Ecuador and northern Peru
Agrias amydon amydonias ______ BRam subspecies in central Peru and in Brazil in Amazonas
Agrias amydon aristuxenus ______ subspecies in Peru and Bolivia
Agrias amydon boliviensis ______ subspecies in Bolivia and Peru
Agrias amydon phalcidon ______ BR subspecies in Brazil
Agrias amydon ferdinandi ______ BRmg subspecies in Bolivia and in Brazil in Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Bahia
There is also a yet undescribed subspecies in Venezuela.
WHITE-SPOTTED AGRIAS
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil)

Agrias amydon is a powerful flier. It is a very variable species, with, as noted above, a number of subspecies.. It lives in the rainforest and visits fruit for sugar.
In the subspecies A. a. amydon, the upperside is dark brown with vivid crimson patches on the forewings.
In some subspecies (A. a. zenodorus and A. a. boliviensis), the crimson is replaced by bright orange.
The upperside hindwings have a patch of metallic blue, which varies in size and hue according to subspecies.
Agrias claudina ______ BR EC
Agrias claudina claudina ______ BRam,mg subspecies in Venezuela, the Guianas, and in much of Brazil
Agrias claudina delavilliae ______ subspecies in Venezuela, in the Sierra de Lema
Agrias claudina patriciae ______ subspecies in Venezuela
Agrias claudina croesus ______ BRam   subspecies in Brazil in Para and Amazonas
Agrias claudina lugens ______   subspecies in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela
Agrias claudina sardanapalus ______ BRam EC   subspecies in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil in Rondonia and Amazonas, and in southern Venezuela
Agrias claudina godmani ______ BRmg   subspecies in Brazil in Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais, and in Bolivia
Agrias claudina annetta ______ BRse   subspecies in southern Brazil in the states of Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo
GODART'S AGRIAS

The distinctive subspecies, A. c. sardanapalus has extensive red on the forewings with light sparkling blue on the greater part of the hindwings, otherwise being black.

Some say that 4 of the subspecies above (sardanapalus, croesus, claudina, lugens) are in Agrias sardanapalus along with subspecies: claudia, lugina.
Agrias hewitsonius ______ BR EC
Agrias hewitsonius hewitsonius ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil in Amazonas
Agrias hewitsonius beatifica ______ EC subspecies in Ecuador and Peru
Agrias hewitsonius stuarti ______ BRam subspecies in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil in Amazonas

Some say that the subspecies here are part of Agrias beata, along with A. b. beata, in taxonomy not applied here. .
Agrias narcissus ______ BR
Agrias narcissus stoffeli ______ subspecies in Venezuela in the Sierra de Lema
Agrias narcissus narcissus ______ BRam subspecies in Amazonian Brazil and the Guianaas
Agrias narcissus tapajonus ______ BRam subspecies in Brazil, in Amazonas and Para

Females of Agrias narcissus tapajonus have both a red form and a yellow form.

Some say that Agrias narcissus is a subspecies of Agrias aedon (above).

AGRIAS (above) is one of a very small number of butterflies that have been known to hybridize with other genera in the wild.
A taxon named Prepona x sarumani was described in 1976, considered to be a hybrid between Prepona praeneste abrupta (below) and Agrias claudina lugens (above).
The butterfly had been captured near the Rio Huallaga in Peru.
The hybridization showed there to be a very close relationship between PREPONA and AGRIAS. Some taxonomists question whether the two genera are really distinct, but most do regard them as being so.

Genus PREPONA

Butterflies in the genera PREPONA and ARCHAEOPREPONA (below) are a beautiful, bright blue on the upper side of the wings.
They are mainly in primary or secondary forests (both tropical and cloud forests), but they do occasionally visit agricultural areas to feed on decaying fruits or sap from tree bark.
Host plants for PREPONA are especially Inga spp. in Mimosaceae.

Prepona omphale ______ (DV1:13)
Prepona omphale omphale ______ (subspecies in Venezuela)
Prepona omphale amesia ______ (subspecies in Colombia)
Prepona omphale caucensis ______ (subspecies in Colombia)
Prepona omphale caucensis ______ (subspecies in Mato Grosso, Brazil)
an English name has been OMPHALE'S KING SHOEMAKER
Prepona dexamenus ______ EC (DV1:13) (MCA:119)
Prepona dexamenus dexamenus ______ (subspecies from Panama to the Amazon basin)
LEAST PREPONA
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

In flight, Prepona meander makes a crackling sound.

Prepona pylene ______ AR BRmg EC
Prepona pylene gnorima ______ EC (MCA:119)   subspecies from Mexico to Colombia and northwest Ecuador
Prepona pylene miranda ______   subspecies in Brazil, Rio Vemelho
Prepona pylene pylene ______ ARne (MM:259)   subspecies in northeast Argentina
MOTTLED PREPONA
AR common name: Pylene
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)
Prepona buckleyana ______
(Range: in Bolivia)
Prepona deiphile ______ EC
Prepona deiphile lygia ______ (subspecies from Costa Rica to the Guianas)
Prepona deiphile neoterpe ______ (subspecies from the Guianas to Peru)
Prepona deiphile photidia ______ (subspecies in Colombia)
Prepona deiphile sphacteria ______ (subspecies in Peru)
Prepona deiphile xenagoras ______ (subspecies in Bolivia)
Prepona deiphile deiphile ______ (subspecies in Brazil)
ORANGE-SPOTTED PREPONA
(Range: in southeast Brazil)
Prepona eugenes ______
Prepona eugenes eugenes ______ (subspecies in Bolivia)
Prepona garleppiana ______
Prepona garleppiana garleppiana ______ (subspecies in Bolivia)
Prepona joiceyi ______
Prepona joiceyi poleti ______ (subspecies in Mato Grosso, Brazil)
Prepona laertes ______ EC (EBE:99) (MCA:119)
Prepona laertes octavia ______ ECnw (subspecies from Mexico to Ecuador)
Prepona laertes demodice ______ ECnw (subspecies Costa Rica, the Guianas, Ecuador, south to Brazil & Bolivia)
Prepona laertes louisa ______ (subspecies in Colombia, Venezuela, & Trinidad)
Prepona laertes laertes ______ (subspecies in Paraguay)
YELLOW-TUFTED PREPONA (other names are Feathered Prepona, Laertes Prepona, or Shaded Blue Leafwing)
(Range: Mexico to Paraguay & Brazil)

What was Prepona philipponi is now included in Prepona laertes demodice.
Prepona pheridamas ______ EC
Prepona pheridamas pheridamas ______ (subspecies in Brazil, in Para)
Prepona praeneste ______ EC
Prepona praeneste choroniensis ______ (subspecies in Venezuela)
Prepona praeneste abrupta ______ subspecies in Peru (see note above regarding a hybrid of this species with Agrias claudina lugens)
Prepona pseudomphale ______
Prepona pseudomphale pseudomphale ______ (subspecies in Brazil, in Amazonas)
Prepona werneri ______
(Range: in Colombia)
Prepona xenagoras ______
(Range: in Bolivia)

Genus ARCHAEOPREPONA

Host plants for ARCHAEOPREPONA are the avocado, Persea americana, and Nectandra spp.. in Lauraceae, or Annona spp. in Annonaceae.

Archaeoprepona amphimachus ______ EC
Archaeoprepona amphimachus amphiktion ______ ECnw (EBE:100) (MCA:118) (subspecies from Mexico to Ecuador)
Archaeoprepona amphimachus amphimachus ______ (subspecies in Venezuela)
Archaeoprepona amphimachus megacles ______ (subspecies in southern Brazil)
WHITE-SPOTTED PREPONA

Archaeoprepona demophon ______ EC (C:347) (DV1:14) (MCA:118) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Archaeoprepona demophon demophon ______ EC (EBE:99) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Archaeoprepona demophon muson ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
Archaeoprepona demophon thalpius ______ ARne (MM:256) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ONE-SPOTTED PREPONA
AR common name: Demofonte (who was a fortune-teller consulted by Alexander the Great)
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

In 1814, the butterfly taxonomist Hubner made a blunder by giving a newly-described species the name Archaeoprepona demophoon (below), almost identical to the name given by Linnaeus 56 years earlier in 1758 to another species, Archaeoprepona demophon (above). To complicate matters further, both species often occur together, and their uppersides are virtually identical!
Archaeoprepona demophoon (ph) ______ EC (EBE:100)
Archaeoprepona demophoon gulina ______ ECnw (MCA:118) (subspecies from Mexico to the Amazon basin)
Archaeoprepona demophoon demophoon (ph) ______ ARne (MM:257) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
TWO-SPOTTED PREPONA (another name has been the Silver King Shoemaker)
AR common name: Demophoon (who, in mythology was Teseo's son)
(Range: southern Mexico to Argentina)

Archaeoprepona demophoon lives in the canopy of the rainforest. It is probably one of the fastest-flying butterflies in its range (the American tropics). It is said to have a smell like vanilla (maybe from its food source).

A photographer's account: "I have observed and photographed it, but always from a great distance, and always as a solitary butterfly, sitting with its wings open in the sun, like a drop of metallic blue paint on the green foliage high in the trees."

Two-spotted Prepona (or Demophoon) (also called Silver King Shoemaker)
(photo courtesy of Junji Nakamura who sent us this picture of a butterfly that had been her mother's since the 1950s)
Archaeoprepona meander ______ EC (DV1:14) (MCA:118) (S:119)
Archaeoprepona meander megabates ______ (EBE:100) (subspecies from Panama to Bolivia)
THREE-TONED PREPONA (another name has been the Banded King Shoemaker)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

In flight, Archaeoprepona meander makes a crackling sound.

Archaeoprepona camilla ______
Archaeoprepona camilla camilla ______ ECnw (subspecies from Nicaragua to Ecuador)
PALE PREPONA

Archaeoprepona chalciope ______ ARne (MM:258)
Archaeoprepona chalciope domna ______ (subspecies in Minas Gerais, Brazil)
AR common name: Calciope (relating to the scientific name, that is mythological)
Archaeoprepona licomedes ______ EC
(Range: in Ecuador & Peru)

Genus NOREPPA: genus created in 1971
Noreppa chromus ______ EC

Subfamily CHARAXINAE, Tribe ANAEINI: LEAF BUTTERFLIES

Butterflies in CHARAXINAE look like dead leaves when not moving.
Most are in primary or secondary forests, where they fly over the canopy, but sometimes in open areas.
They feed on fruits and various organic matter.

Genus ANAEOMORPHA
Anaeomorpha splendida ______ EC

Genus COENOPHLEBIA
Coenophlebia archidona ______ EC

Genus SIDERONE: LEAFWINGS

Siderone marthesis ______ (DV1:13)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)
Siderone galanthis (ph) ______ EC (EBE:96)
Siderone galanthis galanthis ______ (MCA:123) subspecies from Central America to the Amazon basin
Siderone galanthis angustifascia ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
RED-STRIPED LEAFWING (or Red-and-black Leafwing)

Red-striped Leafwing
(copyrighted photo by Lisa Johnson)
Siderone syntyche ______ EC

Genus ZARETIS: LEAFWINGS

Zaretis ellops (or anzuletta) ______ (MCA:122)
SEASONAL LEAFWING (or Holey Leafwing)
(Range: Mexico to northwest Venezuela)

Zaretis isidora (ph) ______ EC (EBE:96) (MCA:122)
ISIDORA LEAFWING (or Cramer's Leafwing)
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Above & below: the Isidora Leafwing,
showing upperwings & underwings
(photos by Sherry Nelson)

Zaretis itys ______ EC
Zaretis itys itys ______ (DV1:14) (MCA:122) (subspecies from Mexico to Bolivia and the Amazon basin)
Zaretis itys itylus ______ AR:ne (MM:262) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ITYS LEAFWING (or Skeletonized Leafwing)
AR common name: Itis (refers to the scientific name; Itys in mythology was the daughter of Tereo and Procne.)
(Range: southern Mexico to Brazil)
Zaretis pythagoras ______ ECnw (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, described in 2004)
Zaretis syene ______ EC
There is yet an undescribed species of Zaretis in Ecuador.

Genus HYPNA: LEAFWINGS

Hypna clytemnestra ______ AR EC (EBE:96) (MCA:123)
Hypna clytemnestra negra ______ ECnw (DV1:15) subspecies from Nicaragua to Bolivia
Hypna clytemnestra huebneri ______ ARne (MM:260) subspecies in northeast Argentina
SILVER-STUDDED LEAFWING (or Jazzy Leafwing)
AR common name: Clitemnestra (relating to the name: Clitemnestra was Agamenon's wife.)
(Range: Mexico to the Argentina)

Genus CONSUL: LEAFWINGS

Consul fabius ______ AR BRmg EC (EBE:96)
Consul fabius cecrops ______ ECnw (DV1:15) (MCA:123) subspecies from Mexico to Bolivia
Consul fabius drurii ______ ARne (MM:261) subspecies in northeast Argentina
TIGER-STRIPED LEAFWING (or Tiger Leafwing)
AR common name: Mbopi (this name is Guarani word meaning "bat", referring to its peculiar shape when flying near the tops of trees)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)
Consul panariste ______ EC (EBE:96)
Consul panariste pandrosa ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador

Genus MEMPHIS: LEAFWINGS

About 100 species, which occur in Central and South America. They resemble the genus ANAEA, to which they are closely related. MEMPHIS was at one time said to be a subgenus of ANAEA.
With crytic undersides that are leaf-like. They reside in the forest, and are powerful fliers.

In Ecuador, there are more than 35 species of MEMPHIS butterflies, with most of them looking very much alike.
The majority are found in primary or secondary forests, where they fly over the canopy. They do, however, come down to feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
A few of the MEMPHIS species venture into open areas. But most reside in tropical or cloud forests.
Host plants include: Euphorbiceae (Croton spp.), Lauraceae (Nectandra spp.), and Piperaceae.

Also following here is the Genus FOUNTAINEA, closely related to MEMPHIS.

FOUNTAINEA butterflies are similar to MEMPHIS species, but with spectacular violet or orange coloration on the upper side of the wings.
There are 8 species in Ecuador, found mostly in tropical areas or cloud forests.
They frequent wet soils to ingest dissolved mineral salts.
Host plants are generally Croton spp. in Euphorbiaceae.

Fountainea ryphea (ph) ______ AR EC (EBE:98) (was Anaea ryphea)
Fountainea ryphea ryphea ______ (DV1:15) (MCA:120) subspecies from Mexico to the Amazon basin
Fountainea ryphea ecuadorialis ______ ECnw (EBE:98) subspecies in Ecuador
Fountainea ryphea phidile ______ ARne (MM:264) subspecies in northeast Argentina
RYPHEA LEAFWING (or BLUE-BARRED LEAFWING)
AR common name: Purpurea (translates to "Purple")

Ryphea Leafwing
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Fountainea centaurus ______ EC (EBE:98)

Fountainea eurypyle ______ EC (DV1:15) (EBE:98) (MCA:120) (was Anaea eurypyle)
POINTED LEAFWING
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia)
Fountainea glycerium ______ AR EC (MCA:121) (PE:25) (was Anaea glycerium)
Fountainea glycerium cratais ______ ARne (MM:263) subspecies in northeast Argentina
ANGLED LEAFWING
AR common name: Purpurea Coluda (translates to "Tailed Purple")
Fountainea halice ______ EC
Fountainea nessus (ph) ______ EC (EBE:98)

Fountainea nessus
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Fountainea noblis (ph) ______ EC (MCA:121) (was Anaea noblis)
NOBLE LEAFWING
(Range: southern Mexico to Venezuela and Peru)

Noble Leafwing
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Fountainea sosippus ______ EC
Memphis titan ______ (DV1:15)
(Range: Costa Rica to Peru)
Memphis acaudata ______ EC
Memphis acidalia ______ BRmg EC
ACIDALIA LEAFWING
Memphis ambrosia ______ EC
Memphis anassa ______ EC
Memphis anna ______ EC
Memphis anna elina ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Memphis arachne ______ EC
Memphis aulica ______
Memphis aulica gudrum ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Memphis aureola ______ ECnw (MCA:128)
AUREOLA LEAFWING
(Range: Mexico to Colombia)
Memphis xenocles ______ EC (DV1:17) (MCA:127)
CAROLINA LEAFWING (or Corner-spotted Leafwing)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)
Memphis arginussa ______ EC (DV1:17) (EBE:97) (MCA:125)
MOTTLED LEAFWING
(Range: Mexico to Amazon Basin)
Memphis basilia ______ EC
Memphis beatrix ______ EC
Memphis catinka ______ EC
Memphis cerealia ______ EC
Memphis chaeronea ______ ECnw
Memphis cleomestra ______ EC
Memphis cleomestra cleomestra ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Memphis dia ______ EC
Memphis falcata ______ EC
Memphis glauce ______ EC
Memphis glauce centralis ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Memphis moeris ______ EC
Memphis mora ______ EC
Memphis mora annetta ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Memphis moruus ______ ECnw
Memphis moruus (ph) ______ (DV1:18) (MCA:126)
Memphis moruus coerulescens ______ ARne (MM:265) subspecies in northeast Argentina
LAUREL LEAFWING (or Blue Leaf)
AR common name: Hoja Azul (translates to "Blue Leaf")
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

The Laurel Leafwing, or Blue Leaf
photographed at Iguazu Falls, Argentina
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Memphis lemnos ______ EC
Memphis lineata ______ EC
Memphis lorna ______ EC (EBE:97)
Memphis lyceus ______ EC (DV1:18) (EBE:97)
LYCEUS LEAFWING
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia)
Memphis nenia ______ ECnw
Memphis oenomais ______ (DV1:18) (MCA:126)
EDGE LEAFWING (a northern race is called the BOISDUVAL'S LEAFWING)
(Range: Mexico thru Central and South America)

Memphis offa ______ EC

Memphis artacaena ______ ECnw (MCA:126)
WHITE-PATCHED LEAFWING
(Range: southeast Mexico to Colombia)
Memphis perenna ______ EC
Memphis phantes ______ EC
Memphis philumena ______ EC
Memphis phoebe ______ EC
Memphis pithyusa ______ EC
Memphis pithyusa pithyusa ______ (DV1:19) (K:221) (MCA:125) (PE:25) subspecies from Texas to Bolivia
PALE-SPOTTED LEAFWING
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia)
Memphis polycarmes ______ EC
Memphis polyxo ______ EC
Memphis praxias ______ EC
Memphis pseudiphis ______ EC
Memphis xenippa ______ EC

Genus POLYGRAPHA
Polygrapha cyanea ______
Polygrapha suprema ______ BRse local and rare in southeast Brazil
Polygrapha tyrianthina ______ in Peru and Bolivia
KING LEAFWING
Polygrapha xenocrates ______ BR
Polygrapha xenocrates demaculata ______ BRmg   subspecies in Brazil
Polygrapha xenocrates punctmarginalis ______ subspecies in the Guianas

Subfamily APATURINAE

Genus DOXOCOPA: EMPERORS

DOXOCOPA butterflies are irridescent species of tropical zones and foothills, occurring up to 4,500 feet above sea level, and mostly in close proximity to primary and secondary forests.
They frequently visit riverbanks or wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants are trees of the Ulmaceae family, such as Celtis spp.

Doxocopa pavon ______ EC (DV1:19) (EBE:51) (K:225) (MCA:130) (PE:24)
PAVON EMPEROR
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia)

Doxocopa clothilda ______
CLOTHILDA EMPEROR
(Range: Costa Rica to Colombia)

Doxocopa cyane (ph) ______ EC (DV1:20) (EBE:51) (MCA:130)
CYAN EMPEROR (called, further north in its range, Mexican Emperor)
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

Above & below: the Cyan Emperor
The photo above was taken during the FONT tour
in southern Ecuador in April 2014.
(upper photo by Marie Gardner, lower photo by Sherry Nelson)

Doxocopa laure ______ EC (C:285) (DV1:20) (K:225) (MCA:130) (PE:24)
SILVER EMPEROR (also called Laure)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)
Doxocopa linda ______ AR EC (EBE:51)
Doxocopa linda mileta ______ ARne (MM:266) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
RARE EMPEROR
AR common name: Linda (translates to "Cute")

Doxocopa linda imitates species of the Adelpha genus.
Doxocopa elis ______ EC
Doxocopa agathina ______ AR BRmg EC (EBE:51)
Doxocopa agathina vacuna ______ ARne (MM:267) subspecies in northeast Argentina
AR common name: Turqui (translates to "Turquoise")
Doxocopa kallina ______ ARba,ne (BB:239) (MM:268)
AR common name: Indigo
Doxocopa laurentia (ph) ______ EC (MCA:130)
Doxocopa laurentia cherubina ______ (EBE:51) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Doxocopa laurentia laurentia ______ ARba,ne (BB:237) (MM:269) (subspecies in Argentina)
TURQUOISE EMPEROR
AR common name: Zafiro (translates to "Sapphire")

A Turquoise Emperor, Doxocopa laurentia, photographed during a FONT tour
at Iguazu Falls in August 2008
Doxocopa lavinia ______ EC
Doxocopa zunilda ______ EC
Doxocopa zunilda felderi ______ (DV1:19) (subspecies from Costa Rica to Colombia)
Doxocopa zunilda zunilda ______ ARne (MM:270) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ZINGY EMPEROR
AR common name: Zunilda
(Range: Costa Rica to Argentina)

Subfamily LIBYTHEINAE: SNOUTS

Genus LIBYTHEANA: SNOUTS

libytheana carinenta   ______ (C:281) (DV1:20) (F:175) (K:223) (MCA:79) (PE:18) (S:146) (WGC:101)
Libytheana carinenta carinenta ______ ARba,ne BRmg CH (BB:235) (MM:255) (subspecies in Argentina)
AMERICAN SNOUT
AR common names: Picuda (this and other common names refer to the size of the labial palpi)
Mariposa Elefante, Trompa de Elefante, Trompuda
BR common name: Bicuda
CH common name: Mariposa Comun del Tropico
(Range: southern US to Argentina. In Chile, locally in coastal Linares)

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe BIBLIDINI

Genus BIBLIS

Biblis hyperia (ph) ______ EC (C:319) (DV1:21) (F:124) (K:215) (MCA:107) (PE:25)
Biblis hyperia pacifica ______ EC (EBE:52) (subspecies in Ecuador in the area of the Coast)
Biblis hyperia laticlavia ______ EC (EBE:52) (subspecies in Ecuador in the Amazon)
Biblis hyperia nectanabis ______ ARba,ne (BB:251) (MM:291) (subspecies in Ecuador in the area of the Coast)
Biblis hyperia laticlavia ______ EC (EBE:52) (subspecies in Ecuador in the Amazon)
Biblis hyperia nectanabis ______ ARba,ne (BB:251) (MM:291) (subspecies in Argentina)
RED RIM
AR common name: Alas Sangrantes (translates to "Crimson-banded Black")
(Range: Mexico to the Argentina, also the West Indies)

The Red Rim is a numerous butterfly in Ecuador, with two subspecies (as noted above). Easy to identify, it occurs in tropical areas, and up to about 3,500 feet above sea level.
Host plants: Tragia spp. in Euphorbiaceae.

Red Rim

Genus MESTRA
Mestra dorcas ______ EC

Genus VILA
Vila azeca ______ EC
Vila emilia ______ EC

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe COEINI

Genus HISTORIS

This genus includes only 2 large, common species of the humid tropics (in Ecuador, in the Amazon and Esmeraldas).
They feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter. They also frequent riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants include: Cecropia spp. (in Urticaceae).

Historis odius (ph) ______   AR BRmg EC (DV1:21) (MCA:127) (PE:text)
Historis odius odius ______ EC (EBE:70)   subspecies in Ecuador
Historis odius dious ______ ARne EC (MM:272)   subspecies from Mexico to Argentina
ORION CECROPIAN (also called Stinky Leaf Wing)
AR common name: Popeno, a Guarani word meaning "gigantic"
(Range: throughout Central and South America; in North America, a rare stray to Florida)

Orion Cecropian

Historis acheronta ______ EC (C:353) (DV1:21) (MCA:127)
Historis acheronta acheronta ______ (EBE:70) (subspecies in Ecuador)
TAILED CECROPIAN
(subspecies in Ecuador)
TAILED CECROPIAN
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin, also Greater Antilles)

Genus BAEOTUS

This genus has 4 species (all of which are in Ecuador), especially in the Amazon.
Baeotus aeilus is also in the area of the Ecuadorian Coast.
These butterflies feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter, and they frequent riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants are Cecropia spp. (in Urticaceae) and probably Moraceae.

Baeotus beotus ______ EC (DV1:21) (MCA:116) (F:122)
GRAPHIC BEAUTY
(Range: Costa Rica to the Amazon Basin)

Baeotus baeotus is an attractive and rare butterfly in virgin rainforest.
Baeotus aeilus ______ BRmg EC
Baeotus aeilus amazonicus ______ EC (EBE:71) subspecies in Ecuador
AMAZON BEAUTY
Baeotus deucalion ______ EC (EBE:71)
Baeotus japetus ______ EC (EBE:71)

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe NYMPHALINI

Genus TIGRIDIA

Tigridia acesta (ph) ______ EC (DV1:21) (MCA:116) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Tigridia acesta columbina ______ (subspecies in Ecuador, by the Coast)
Tigridia acesta fulvescens ______ (subspecies in Ecuador, in the Amazon)
TIGER BEAUTY
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

In Ecuador, the Tiger Beauty is somewhat less common than the Dirce Beauty (below).
It occurs in less disturbed habitats, and feeds primarily on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants: Cecopia spp. in Urticaceae.

Tiger Beauty
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus COLOBURA

Colobura dirce (ph) ______ EC (C:291) (DV1:21) (EBE:81) (MCA:116) (S:114) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Colobura dirce dirce _____ ARne (MM:271) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
DIRCE BEAUTY (other names have been the Small Beauty and The Mosaic)
AR common name: Cebrita (this name & the English "Zebra Butterfly" refer to the pattern on the ventral side)
(Range: Mexico thru Central & South America, also the West Indies)

In Ecuador, Colobura dirce is of infrequent occurrence in the area of the Coast and in the Amazon along primary and secondary forest edges, and in agricultural areas.
It feeds primarily on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants are Cecropia spp. (in Urticaceae).

Colobura dirce, the Dirce Beauty
Colebura annulata ______ EC (MCA:116) (species described in 2001)
NEW BEAUTY
(Range: Mexico to western Ecuador & Bolivia, and east to Venezuela, the Guianas, & Trinidad)

Genus SMYRNA

Smyrna blomfildia (ph) ______ EC (DV1:21) (EBE:81) (K:225) (MCA:115) (PE:26)
Smyrna blomfildia blomfildia ______ ARne (MM:273) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
BLOMFILD'S BEAUTY
AR common name: Dibujada
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

In Ecuador, the Blomfild's Beauty is not very common. It occurs in the area of the Coast, in the Amazon, and up to about 4,200 feet above sea level on both slopes.
It feeds primarily on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants: in Urticaceae.

Blomfild's Beauty, Smyrna blomfildia
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus PYCINA

Pycina zamba ______ EC (DV1:21) (MCA:115)
CLOUD FOREST BEAUTY
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

Genus HYPANARTIA

In Ecuador, HYPANARTIA butterflies are common, mid-sized species found in open areas and forest edges in foothills, cloud forests, and with some in Andean valleys.
They are easily seen on wet soil extracting mineral salts.
Host plants are in Urticaceae (Boehmeria spp. and Pillea spp.) and in Ulmaceae.

Hypanartia lethe (ph) ______ EC (C:279) (DV1:28) (EBE:80) (MCA:95) (MM:324)
ORANGE MAPWING
AR common name: Leta (referring to the scientific name; Lethe, in mythology, was Oleno's wife who turned into a stone)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil & Argentina)

Above & below: Hypanartia lethe, the Orange Mapwing
(upper photo by Sherry Nelson; lower photo by Jorge Bizarro)

Hypanartia godmani ______ EC (MCA:95)
GODMAN'S MAPWING (or Splendid Mapwing)
(Range: Mexico to Colombia)

Hypanartia kefersteini ______ EC (DV1:28) (EBE:80)
RED MAPWING
(Range: Mexico to Peru)
Hypanartia charon ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Hypanartia christophori ______ EC (species described in 1998)
Hypanartia cinderella (ph) ______ EC (species described in 2001)

Hypanartia cinderella
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Hypanartia dione ______ EC
Hypanartia lindigi ______ EC
Hypanartia trimaculata ______ EC (species described in 2001)
Hypanartia bella ______ ARba,ne (BB:261) (MM:325)
AR common name: Bella (translates to "Beautiful")

Genus VANESSA: LADY BUTTERFLIES

In Ecuador, VANESSA butterflies, or "Painted Ladies", are common and conspicuous in diverse areas such as open areas, cloud forests, Andean valleys, paramos, dry coastal areas. There are at least 6 species in Ecuador.
Two species occur in the Galapagos Islands: Vanessa carye and Vanessa virginiensis.
In the Andes, Vanessa altissima flies at over 12,000 feet above sea level.
VANESSA butterflies feed on nectar, rotten fruit, and other organic matter, and they visit wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants include those in Acanthaceae, Malvaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae.
Vanessa (or Cynthia) cardui (ph) ______ (DV1:28) (K:205) (MCA:93) (PE:23) (S:141) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
PAINTED LADY
(Range: worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand)

Painted Lady
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Vanessa virginiensis (ph) ______ EC (EBE:79)
AMERICAN LADY
(Range: from North America south to Colombia; also in the West Indies, Hawaii, & the Canary Islands)
Vanessa carye (ph) ______ ARba,ne CH EC (BB:257) (MM:321) (WGC:101)
FOUR-EYED LADY
AR common name: Dama Cuatro Ojos (translates to "Four-eyed Lady")
CH common name: Mariposa Colorada
(Range: widespread in South America in a variety of habitats, including towns and cities. In Chile, Arica to Magallanes)

Vanessa carye is a smaller sister species of the Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui.
The larvae feeds on nettles and mallows.

A Four-eyed Lady photographed during a FONT tour in southern Chile,
on Chiloe Island
(photo by Frank Stermitz)
Vanessa atalanta (ph) ______ (MCA:93)
Vanessa atalanta rubria ______ (subspecies from North America to Guatemala, & Venezuela)
RED ADMIRAL
Vanessa altissima (ph) ______ EC (EBE:79)

Vanessa altissima
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Vanessa terpsichore ______ CH
CH common name: Mariposa Colorada de Philippi
(Range: in Chile, occurs commonly from Coquimbo to Magallanes)

Vanessa terpsichore is very similar to Vanessa carye, but it is paler.
Vanessa braziliensis ______ ARba,ne EC (BB:259) (EBE:79) (MM:322)
AR common name: Dama Dos Ojos (translates to "Two-eyed Lady")
Vanessa myrinna ______ ARne EC (MM:323)
AR common name: Dama Fajarda (translates to "Banded Lady")

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe AGERONIINI

Genus HAMADRYAS: CRACKERS:: species in this genus are called "CRACKERS" because of the noise the males make with their wings in flight.

In general CRACKERS are also called CALICOS.

CRACKERS, or CALICOS, or "CLICKERS", are essentially tropical. They are easily recognizable by their patterns, and by their way of sitting head down on trunks or walls. But species can be hard to identify because they look much like one another.
They feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants: in Euphorbiaceae (Dalechampia spp. and Tragia spp.)

Hamadryas februa (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (DV1:21) (F:158) (K:217) (PE:26)
Hamadryas februa ferentina ______ (MCA:113) subspecies from Mexico south to Colombia, the Guianas and the Amazon, also Trinidad)
Hamadryas februa februa ______ ARba,ne (BB:253) (MM:284) subspecies in Argentina
GRAY CRACKER (or some places called The Cracker) (also called Common Calico)
AR common name: Pororo Ocelos Rojos (translates to "Red eye-spotted Pororo") ("Pororo" is a Guarani word meaning "that crackles" or "that sparkles".)
(Range: southern US to Argentina)

Hamadryas februa occurs along forest edges. Not at flowers, but at rotting fruit, dung, and mud.

A Gray Cracker photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Hamadryas feronia (ph) ______ ECnw (C:259) (DV1:21) (EBE:57) (K:217) (PE:26) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Hamadryas feronia farinulenta ______ (MCA:114) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Hamadryas feronia farinulenta ______ (MCA:114) subspecies from Mexico to Peru and Venezuela, and Trinidad
VARIABLE CRACKER
(Range: southern US to Brazil)

A Variable Cracker photographed during the FONT Ecuador Tour in April 2013
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Hamadryas arethusa ______ (S:132)
QUEEN CRACKER

Hamadryas arethusa is considered conspecific with Hamadryas laodamia (below).

Hamadryas guatemalena (ph) ______ EC (DV1:21) (PE:26)
GUATEMALAN CRACKER
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

Hamadryas ipthime ______ (DV1:21) (MCA:113) (PE:26)
Hamadryas ipthime ipthime ______ EC (subspecies from Costa Rica to Bolivia & southern Brazil)
BROWNISH CRACKER (or RINGLESS BLUE CRACKER)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

Hamadryas fornax ______ (DV1:21) (EBE:57) (F:158)
Hamadryas fornax fornacalia ______ EC (MCA:112) (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia & Venezuela)
Hamadryas fornax fornax ______ ARne EC (MM:287) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ORANGE CRACKER (other names are Yellow Cracker, or Yellow-skirted Cracker)
AR common name: Pororo Mancha Ocre (translates to "Ochre-spotted Pororo") ("Pororo" is a Guarani word meaning "that crackles" or "that sparkles".)
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Hamadryas fornax is smaller than other crackers, and with a number of subspecies. It is found In moist rainforest, occurring along trails and rivers.

Hamadryas amphinome (ph) ______ AR EC (DV1:22) (EBE:56) (F:157) (PE:26) (species described by Linnaeus in 1767)
Hamadryas amphinome mexicana ______ (MCA:112) subspecies from Mexico to Colombia
Hamadryas amphinome amphinome ______ ARba,ne ECam (BB:255) (MM:286) widespread subspecies, in Argentina and eastern Amazonian Ecuador
Hamadryas amphinome fumosa ______ ECnw subspecies in western Ecuador, in the coastal area
RED CRACKER
AR common names: Pororo Mancha Roja (translates to "Red-spotted Pororo" with "Pororo" being a Guarani word meaning "that crackles" or "that sparkles",
or Clic Rojiza, translating to "Reddish Click", referring to the peculiar noise made by the butterfly)
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina, can occur in rainforests)

A host plant for Hamadryas amphinome is Dalechampia scandens (in Euphorbiaceae).

Red Cracker (the red is on the other side of the wings)

Hamadryas glauconome ______
Hamadryas glauconome amphichloe ______ EC subspecies in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador
GLAUCOUS CRACKER

Hamadryas arinome ______ EC
Hamadryas arinome arienis ______ ECnw (DV1:22) subspecies from Costa Rica to Bolivia; subspecies in western Ecuador
Hamadryas arinome arinome ______ EC subspecies in eastern Ecuador
TURQUOISE CRACKER
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Hamadryas laodamia ______ BRam,mg EC (C:261) (F:159)
Hamadryas laodamia saurites ______ ECnw (DV1:22) (MCA:112) subspecies from southern Mexico to Colombia, northern Venezuela, Trinidad; subspecies in western Ecuador
Hamadryas laodamia laodamia ______ EC subspecies in eastern Ecuador
STARRY NIGHT CRACKER
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

Hamadryas laodamia has delightful coloration completely different than its allies. It flies in the canopy and in sunny clearings in the rainforest.
Hamadryas albicornis ______ EC
Hamadryas alicia ______ EC
Hamadryas amphichloe ______ EC (EBE:57)
Hamadryas chloe ______ EC
Hamadryas chloe chloe ______ EC (EBE:57) subspecies in eastern Ecuador
Hamadryas epinome ______ ARne (MM:285)
AR common name: Pororo (this name is a Guarani word meaning "that crackles" or "that sparkles")
Hamadryas arete (ph) ______ ARne (MM:288)
AR common name: Pororo Azul (translates to "Blue Pororo") ("Pororo" is a Guarani word meaning "that crackles" or "that sparkles")

Hamadryas arete
(photo by Jorge Bizarro)

Genus ECTIMA
Ectima erycinoides ______ EC
Ectima iona ______ EC
Ectima lirides ______ EC
Ectima thecla ______ EC
Ectima thecla thecla ______ ARne (MM:289)
AR common name: Pororo Mini (referring to the similarity with the butterflies of the genus HAMADRYAS called "Pororo"; "Mini" relates to its smaller size.)

Genus PANACEA

PANACEA species are spectacular species of humid tropical areas.

In Ecuador, there are 5 species, essentially in the Amazon and in the northern Coastal area. They are common in certain Amazonian areas, and uncommon by the Coast.
They feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter, and they also visit riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: Caryodendron spp. in Euphorbiaceae.

Panacea procilla ______ (DV1:22)
(Range: Panama to the Amazon Basin)
Panacea prola ______ EC (EBE:58)
Panacea regina ______ EC (EBE:58)
Panacea chalcothea ______ EC
Panacea divalis ______ EC
Panacea procilla ______ EC

Genus BATESIA
Batesia hypochlora ______ EC

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe EPICALLINI

Genus EUNICA: PURPLEWINGS
60 species in Central & South America that live in primary forest There are at least 28 species in Ecuador.

Most of the EUNICA species are found in tropical areas, with some in cloud forests.
It is a diverse group in which males show brilliant bluish colors.
Some species are seen on humid soil.
Host plants are usually in Euphorbiaceae and Burseraceae.

Eunica tatila (ph) ______ EC (DV1:22) (K:215) (MCA:111) (PE:25)
Eunica tatila bellaria ______ ARne (MM:317) (subspecies from Panama to southern Brazil & Argentina)
FLORIDA PURPLEWING (or Large Purplewing, or simply Purplewing)
(Range: southern US to northern Argentina, also West Indies)

Eunica tatila, the Florida Purplewing

Eunica monima ______ EC (DV1:22) (EBE:55) (K:215) (MCA:111) (PE:25)
DINGY PURPLEWING
(Range: southern US and Mexico thru Central America into South America to Venezuela, also the Greater Antilles)

Eunica malvina ______ EC (DV1:22) (MCA:110)
RAYED PURPLEWING
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Eunica mygdonia ______ BRmg EC (DV1:22) (EBE:55) (MCA:110)
BLIND PURPLEWING (or Mygdonia Purplewing)
(Range: Mexico to the Brazil)

Eunica alcmena ______
Eunica alcmena alcmena ______ EC (DV1:23) (MCA:110) (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia & western Venezuela)
DARK PURPLEWING
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

Eunica araucana ______
ARAUCANA PURPLEWING
(Range: Panama, Colombia, western Venezuela)

Eunica caelina ______ (MCA:111)
Eunica caelina olympias ______ EC (subspecies from eastern Panama to Peru & Venezuela)
MOTTLED PURPLEWING

Eunica caralis ______
Eunica caralis caralis ______ EC (subspecies known to be in Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela)
CARALIS PURPLEWING

Eunica carias ______ EC
Eunica carias carias ______ (subspecies from Costa Rica to Colombia)
CARIAS PURPLEWING

Eunica chlororhoa ______ EC
Eunica chlororhoa mira ______ (subspecies from Honduras to Colombia)
ORANGE-STAINED PURPLEWING

Eunica clytia ______ EC (EBE:55)
CLYTIA PURPLEWING
(Range: western Panana to Peru & central Brazil)

Eunica alpais ______ BRmg EC (DV1:23) (EBE:55) (MCA:111)
SHINING PURPLEWING (or Alpais Purplewing)
(Range: Costa Rica to Brazil)

Eunica norica ______
Eunica norica norica ______ EC (DV1:22) subspecies from Costa Rica to Venezuela and western Ecuador
MIDNIGHT PURPLEWING
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia)

Eunica pomona ______ EC
Eunica pomona amata ______ (DV1:23)
ROUNDED PURPLEWING
(Range: Costa Rica to Venezuela)

Eunica pusilla ______ BRmg
PUSILLA PURPLEWING
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia and southeast Brazil)

Eunica sydonia ______ EC (DV1:22) (MCA:110)
PLAIN PURPLEWING
(Range: Guatemala to Peru)

Eunica volumina ______ EC
Eunica volumina venusia ______ (MCA:111) (subspecies from southern Mexico to Chiapas)
BLUE-CELLED PURPLEWING
Eunica amelia ______ EC
Eunica amycla ______ EC
Eunica bechina ______ EC
Eunica brunnea ______ EC
Eunica concordia ______ EC (EBE:55)
Eunica eurota ______ EC (EBE:55)
Eunica evelide ______ EC
Eunica marsolia ______ EC
Eunica orphise ______ EC
Eunica phasis ______ EC
Eunica sophonisba ______ EC (EBE:55)
Eunica veronica ______ EC
Eunica viola ______ EC
Eunica maja maja (ph) ______ ARne (MM:316) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
MAJA PURPLEWING
AR common name: Maja

the female Maja Purplewing, Eunica maja maja
(photo by Jorge Bizarro)
Eunica eburnea ______ ARne (MM:318)
AR common name: Marfil (translates to "Ivory") (The scientific name, eburnea, means "ivory", or like it.)

Genus MYSCELIA
Myscelia cyaniris ______ EC (DV1:22) (MCA:108)
Myscelia cyaniris millelorum ______ (EBE:54) (subspecies in Ecuador, described in 1984)
WHITENED BLUEWING
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

In Ecuador, Myscelia cyaniris millelorum is not very common, occurring in the area of the Coast, where it is both humid (in the north) and dry (in the central-south). It can also be seen in agricultural zones.
It feeds on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants are Dalechampia spp. in Euphorbiaceae.
.

Myscelia leucocyna ______ (DV1:22)
Myscelia leucocyna leucocyna ______ (subspecies from Panama to Venezuela)
PALE BLUEWING
(Range: Nicaragua to Venezuela)
Myscelia capenas ______ EC
Myscelia capenas octomaculata ______ (EBE:54) (subspecies in Ecuador)

In Ecuador, Myscelia capenas octomaculata is uncommon, in primary and secondary forests of the Amazon, usually seen in forest gaps.
It feeds on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants: in Euphorbiaceae.
Myscelia orsis ______ AR:ne (MM:315)
AR common name: Yin-Yang (This name is because the male & female are very different, but yet they are of course complimentary, as is the universal principle of the yin and the yang in Taoism.)

Genus NESSAEA
Nessaea aglaura ______ EC (MCA:107)
Nessaea aglaura aglaura ______ subspecies from southern Mexico
Nessaea aglaura thalia ______ EC (EBE:54) subspecies in Ecuador
NORTHERN NESSAEA (or Common Olivewing)

In Ecuador, Nessaea aglaura thalia is rare, in and around primary forest in the northwest part of the country, in the Choco biogeographic zone.
Host plants: in Euphorbiaceae.
Nessaea hewitsonii ______ EC
Nessaea obrinus ______ BRmg EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
BLUE-AND-ORANGE OLIVEWING

Genus CATONEPHELE

CATONEPHELE butterflies are generally easy to identify. Males are orange and black. Females are very distinct.
In Ecuador, there are no less than 9 species. They occur in tropical zones, with some in cloud forests. Usually they are close to primary or secondary forests, but they are also found in agricultural areas.
Host plants are usually Alchornea spp. in Euphorbiaceae.

Catonephele numilia (ph) ______ AR BRse EC (MCA:109)
Catonephele numilia esite ______ EC (DV1:25) (EBE:52) (S:139) subspecies from Mexico to Venezuela and in northwest Ecuador; also Trinidad)
Catonephele numilia neogermanica (ph) ______ ARne (MM:292) subspecies in northeast Argentina
BLUE-FROSTED BANNER (other names are the Stoplight Catone and Grecian Shoemaker)
AR common name: Terciopelo Manchado (translates to "Spotted Velvet")
(Range: Mexico to southern Brazil & Argentina)

Catonephele numilia, the Blue-frosted Banner
or Spotlight Catone or Grecian Shoemaker
photographed during a FONT tour in southeast Brazil in August 2009

Catonephele chromis (ph) ______ EC (DV1:25) (EBE:52) (MCA:109)
SISTER-SPOTTED BANNER (another name is Cloud Forest Catone)
(Range: Honduras to possibly Bolivia)

Catonephele chromis, the Sister-spotted Banner
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Catonephele orites ______ ECnw (DV1:25) (EBE:53)
BROKEN BANNER
(Range: Costa Rica to Ecuador)

In Ecuador, Catonephele orites is a relatively rare species in the area of the northern Coast, in the Choco biogeographic zone.

Catonephele acontius ______ AR EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1771)
Catonephele acontius caeruleus ______ ARne (MM:293) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Terciopelo Fajado (translates to "Banded Velvet")
Catonephele antinoe ______ EC
Catonephele mexicana ______ EC (EBE:52) (species described in 1985)
Catonephele nyctimus ______ EC
Catonephele salacia ______ EC
Catonephele salambria ______ EC

Genus CYBDELIS
Cybdelis mnasylus ______ EC (EBE:59)

In Ecuador, Cybdelis mnasylus is relatively common in cloud forest on both Andean slopes, up to 2,100 meters above sea level.
Cybdelis boliviana ______ EC
Cybdelis phaesyla ______ ARne (MM:309)
AR common name: Abanderada (translates to "Standard-bearer", alludes to the pattern on the upper forewings, like Argentina's flag)

Subfamily CYRESTINAE

Genus MARPESIA: DAGGERWINGS
Mostly Central and South American butterflies, but also occurs in Africa. Called "DAGGERWING" after the long tail on each hindwing.

Host plants for Marpesia butterflies include those in Moraceae (for example, Ficus spp.)

Marpesia zerynthia (or coresia) (ph) ______ BR EC (K:219) (MCA:117)
Marpesia zerynthia dentigera ______ (DV1:23) (EBE:68) (PE:25) (subspecies from Mexico, rarely Texas, to Peru)
Marpesia zerynthia zerynthia ______ BR (subspecies in Bahia, Brazil)
WAITER DAGGERWING
(Range: southern US thru Central and South America)

Marpesia coresia has been merged into Marpesia zerynthia.

A Waiter Daggerwing photographed during the FONT Ecuador Tour in April 2013
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Marpesia merops ______ EC (DV1:23) (MCA:117)
SPOT-BANDED DAGGERWING (or Dappled Daggerwing)
(Range: Guatemala to Brazil)

Marpesia berania (ph) ______ BRmg EC (C:275) (DV1:23) (MCA:117)
Marpesia berania berania ______ EC (EBE:67) a subspecies in Ecuador
Marpesia berania fruhstorferi ______ EC a subspecies in Ecuador
ORANGE DAGGERWING (other names are TANGERINE DAGGERWING and Guatemalan Daggerwing)
(Range: Mexico thru Central and South America)

Above & below: Orange Daggerwings photographed
during the FONT tour in Ecuador in April 2013
(photos by Marie Gardner)

Marpesia marcella ______ EC (DV1:23)
Marpesia marcella marcella ______ EC (EBE:15,69) subspecies in Ecuador
PURPLE-STAINED DAGGERWING
(Range: Guatemala to Peru)

Marpesia iole ______ (DV1:23)
(Range: Nicaragua to Bolivia)

Marpesia petreus (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (DV1:23) (F:177) (K:219) (MCA:117) (PE:25) (S:123)
Marpesia petreus petreus ______ ARne EC (EBE:68) (MM:320) subspecies from the Guianas to Bolivia, Argentina
RUDDY DAGGERWING (also called Southern Daggertail, and in the West Indies, the Tailed Flambeau)
(Range: southern US thru Central and South America)

Marpesia petreus visits flowers and mud-puddles.

Ruddy Daggerwing

Marpesia chiron (ph) ______ AR BRmg ECnw (C:273) (DV1:23) (EBE:67) (K:219) (MCA:117) (PE:25)
Marpesia chiron marius ______ ARne (MM:319) (was said to be a subspecies in northeast Argentina)
MANY-BANDED DAGGERWING
AR common name: Mario (refers to the scientific name; the only race found in Argentina)
BR common name: Cambaxirra
(Range: southern US, Central and South America, also West Indies)

Many-banded Daggerwing, Marpesia chiron
(photo by Jorge Bizarro)
Marpesia corinna (ph) ______ EC
CORINNA DAGGERWING

Corinna Daggerwing
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Marpesia crethon ______ EC (EBE:68)
Marpesia egina ______ EC
Marpesia furcula ______ EC
Marpesia furcula violetta ______ EC (EBE:69) subspecies in Ecuador
Marpesia furcula oechalia ______ EC (EBE:69) subspecies in Ecuador
Marpesia livius ______ EC
Marpesia livius livius ______ EC subspecies in Ecuador
Marpesia themistocles ______ BR EC
Marpesia themistocles norica ______ BRmg EC (EBE:67) subspecies in Brazil and Ecuador
NORICA DAGGERWING
Marpesia tutelina ______ EC
Marpesia orsilochus ______ BRmg
WHITE-BANDED DAGGERWING

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe EUBGINI

Genus DYNAMINE

DYNAMINE is a diverse genus of small butterflies. Most species are tropical, with some in cloud forests.
Males are usually bright bluish or white.
In Ecuador, there are almost 30 species. Many visit wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: usually Euphorbiaceae.

Dynamine agacles ______ EC
Dynamine agacies core ______ (DV1:24) (subspecies from Costa Rica to Colombia)
Dynamine agacies agacies ______ ARne (MM:303) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
PALE SAILOR
AR common name: Gota Ribeteada (translates to "Edged Drop")
(Range: Costa Rica to Argentina)

Dynamine theseus ______ EC (DV1:24) (MCA:103)
WHITE SAILOR
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela & Ecuador)

Dynamine colombiana ______ EC
COLOMBIAN SAILOR
(Range: Nicaragua to Colombia, Ecuador, & northwest Venezuela)

Dynamine postverta (or mylitta) ______ EC (DV1:24) (MCA:102)
Dynamine postverta postverta ______ ARne (EBE:62) (MM:306) (subspecies in Ecuador & northeast Argentina)
FOUR-SPOTTED SAILOR (another name is Mexican Sailor)
AR common name: Gota Ocelata (translates to "Eye-spotted Drop")
(Range: Mexico thru Central & South America)

Dynamine artemisia ______ EC
Dynamine artemisia glauce ______ (C:289) (DV1:24) (MCA:102) (subspecies from Mexico to Panama)
Dynamine artemisia artemisia ______ ARne (EBE:63,212) (MM:308) (subspecies in Ecuador & northeast Argentina)
SMALL-EYED SAILOR
AR common name: Gota de Monoculo (translates to "Drop with Monocle", has a large "eyespot" with a band, like a monocle)
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Dynamine aerata ______ ARne EC (MM:307)
AR common name: Gota de Anteokos (translates to "Drop with Glasses")

Dynamine agatha ______ EC

Dynamine amplias ______ EC

Dynamine anubis ______ EC
Dynamine anubis pieridoides ______ (EBE:63)

Dynamine arene ______ EC

Dynamine chryseis ______ EC (EBE:62) (DV1:24)
THICK-RIMMED SAILOR
(Range: Nicaragua to the Amazon Basin)

Dynamine erchia ______ EC

Dynamine gisella ______ EC (EBE:63)

Dynamine haenschi ______ EC (species either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)

Dynamine ines ______ EC
Dynamine ines geta ______ (EBE:62)

Dynamine myrrhina ______ ARba,ne (BB:247) (MM:301)
AR common name: Gota de Luz (translates to "Drop Light")

Dynamine myrson ______ EC

Dynamine coenus ______ EC
Dynamine coenus coenus ______ ARne (MM:302) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Gota Blanca (translates to "White Drop")

Dynamine athemon ______ EC
Dynamine athemon maeon ______ (subspecies in Panama & Colombia)
Dynamine athemon barreiroi ______ (EBE:63)
Dynamine athemon athemaena ______ ARne (MM:304) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
GHOST SAILOR
AR common name: Gota con Linea (translates to "Drop with Line")

Dynamine tithia (ph) ______ EC (EBE:63)
Dynamine tithia salpensa ______ (DV1:24) (subspecies in the Andes and upper Amazon basin, from Colombia to Bolivia; was thought to be in Central America)
Dynamine tithia tithia (ph) ______ ARne (MM:305) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
BLUE SAILOR
AR common name: Gota Ciega (translates to "Blind Drop")

Above & below: the Blue Sailor, photographed at Iguazu Falls
(photos by Sherry Nelson)

Dynamine paulina ______ EC
Dynamine paulina thalassina ______ (MCA:102) (subspecies from Guatemala to Colombia)
DARK SAILOR (or Paulina's Sailor)
Dynamine pebana ______ EC
Dynamine perpetua ______ EC
Dynamine persis ______ EC
Dynamine racidula ______ EC (EBE:63)
Dynamine sara ______ EC
Dynamine setabis ______ EC
Dynamine setabis agnes ______ (EBE:62)
Dynamine sosthenes ______ EC
Dynamine vicaria ______ EC
Dynamine zenobia ______ EC

Genus PYRRHOGYRA

In Ecuador, there are 5 species of PYRRHOGYRA that are relatively common in primary and secondary forests of the Amazon and the area of the Coast.
They are usually seen when they come out to ingest mineral salts.
Host plants are Paullinia spp. (in Sapindaceae).

Pyrrhogyra neaerea ______ EC (DV1:28) (MCA:103) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Pyrrhogyra neaerea arge ______ ARne (MM:310) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
BANDED BANNER (or Leading Red-ring)
AR common name: Pore Pyla
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Pyrrhogyra crameri ______ EC (DV1:28) (MCA:103)
ROUNDED BANNER (or Cramer's Red-ring)
(Range: Belize to the Amazon Basin)

Pyrrhogyra otolais (ph) ______ EC (DV1:28) (MCA:103)
DOUBLE-BANDED BANNER (or White-edged Red-ring)
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia)

Double-banded Banner
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Pyrrhogyra edocla ______ EC (DV1:28) (MCA:103)
Pyrrhogyra edocia edocia ______ subspecies from Mexico to Venezuela
GREEN-SPOTTED BANNER (or Complete Red-ring)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)
Pyrrhogyra amphiro ______ BRmg EC
AMPHIRO REDWING

Genus ASTEROPE

ASTEROPE butterflies occur primarily in undisturbed tropical forests in the Amazon basin.
They spend most of their time in the forest canopy, but they are attracted to rotting fruits, fish, and mammal dung.
During the day, they fly mostly between 10am & 2pm.
Asterope degandii ______ EC
Asterope degandii degandii ______ (subspecies from western Panama to Ecuador)
Asterope degandii adamsi ______ (subspecies in Peru)
RED-BASED BANNER
Asterope buckleyi ______ EC
(Range: in Ecuador and Peru)
Asterope leprieuri ______ EC
Asterope markii ______ EC (EBE:59)
Asterope markii ackeryi ______ (subspecies in Brazil, in Para)
Asterope markii hewitsoni ______ EC (subspecies in Amazonian Ecuador & Peru)
Asterope markii davisii ______ EC (subspecies in Amazonian Ecuador)
Asterope markii markii ______ (subspecies in Brazil, in Amazonas)
Asterope markii werneri ______ (subspecies in Brazil, Rio Japura)

Asterope markii is an attractive species of the Amazon, uncommon in primary and secondary forests.
It is usually seen when looking for mineral salts.
Host plants include Paullinia spp. (in Sapindaceae).
Asterope whitelyi ______ EC
Asterope whitelyi whitelyi ______ (subspecies in Peru)
Asterope optima ______
Asterope optima optima ______ (subspecies in Peru, at Iquitos & the area of the Explorama Lodge)

Genus TEMENIS

The two species in TEMENIS feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter. They also frequent riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: in Sapindaceae.

Temenis laothoe ______ EC (DV1:24) (MCA:107)
Temenis laothoe hondurensis ______ (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia)
Temenis laothoe laothoe ______ (EBE:61) (subspecies in Ecuador, in the Amazon and in humid forests of Esmeraldas)
Temenis laothoe santina ______ ARne (MM:313) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ORANGE BANNER
AR common name: Mocha (translates to "Blunt")
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

Temenis pulchra ______ EC (DV1:24)
Temenis pulchra pallidior ______ (EBE:61) (subspecies in Ecuador, in the Amazon)
RED BANNER
(Range: Costa Rica to the Amazon Basin)

Genus NICA

Nica flavilla ______ EC (MCA:107)
Nica flavilla canthara ______ (DV1:24) (subspecies from Nicaragua to at least Venezuela)
Nica flavilla flavilla ______ ARne (MM:314) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
LITTLE BANNER
AR common name: Aritos (translates to "Small Rings")
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

Genus EPIPHILE

EPIPHILE is a relatively diverse genus with at least 10 beautiful species in Ecuador, mostly in cloud forests on both Andean slopes.
These butterflies feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter. They also visit riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: in Sapindaceae.

Epiphile adrasta ______ (MCA:106)
Epiphile adrasta bandusia ______ subspecies from central Panama to Colombia
COMMON BANNER

Epiphile eriopis ______ EC
Epiphile eriopis devriesi ______ (MCA:106) subspecies from Nicaragua to Colombia, described in 1986
WHITE-STRIPED BANNER (or White-tipped Banner)

Epiphile chrysites (ph) ______ EC
Epiphile chrysites chrysites ______ subspecies from Venezuela to Bolivia
CHRYSITES BANNER

Above & below: the Chrysites Banner
(both photos by Sherry Nelson)

Epiphile epimenes (ph) ______ EC
Epiphile epimenes kalbreyeri ______ EC (EBE:60)
(Range: Colombia and Venezuela)

Epiphile epimenes
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Epiphile orea ______ AR BRse EC (DV1:24)
Epiphile orea ditalis ______ EC (EBE:60) subspecies in Ecuador
Epiphile orea orea ______ ARne (MM:311) subspecies in northeast Argentina
AR common name: Marcada Azul (translates to "Blue Marked")
(Range: Costa Rica to northern Argentina)

Epiphile dilecta ______ EC

Epiphile epicaste ______ EC

Epiphile hubneri ______ ARne EC (MM:312)
AR common name: Marcada Anaranjada (translates to "Orange Marked")
Epiphile imperator ______ EC (species described in 2005)
Epiphile lampethusa ______ EC
Epiphile latifasciata ______ EC

Genus PERIA
Peria lamis ______ EC

Subfamily BIBLIDINAE, Tribe CALLICORINI

Genus HAEMATERA

Haematera pyrame ______ EC (DV1:25)
Haematera pyrame pyrame ______ ARne (MM:290) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
BLIND EIGHTY-EIGHT
AR common name: Llamarada (translates to "Blaze")
(Range: Nicaragua to northern Argentina)

Genus DIAETHRIA

DIAETHRIA is one of the genera (along with HAEMATERA and CALLICORE) including the popular "88 butterflies", so called for the "numbers" on the hindwings. The numbers 0, 6, 8, and 9, and their combinations, are recognizable.
In Ecuador, there are 7 species in this genus.
The most common is Diaethria clymena, with different subspecies in the Amazon, and in the area of the Coast.
The subspecies (and other species in DIAETHRIA) occur in tropical areas and cloud forests.
Diaethria ceryx is restricted to the Coast.
Host plants for DIAETHRIA are in Sapindaceae.

Diaethria clymena (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (C:317) (EBE:212)
Diaethria clymena marchalii ______ ECnw (DV1:25)   subspecies from Nicaragua to northwest Ecuador
The above subspecies more like "68" than "88". (see photo below of butterfly in Ecuador)
Diaethria clymena bourcieri ______ EC (EBE:64)   subspecies in western Ecuador
Diaethria clymena peruviana ______ ECam (EBE:64)   subspecies in eastern Ecuador
Diaethria clymena janeira (ph) ______ ARne (MM:294)   subspecies in northeast Argentina and southern Brazil
the WIDESPREAD EIGHTY-EIGHT (also known as the CLYMENA EIGHTY-EIGHT, or the Cramer's Eighty-Eight)
AR common name: Ochenta y Ocho (translates to "Eighty-Eight Butterfly")
(Range: Nicaragua to Brazil and Argentina)

Above: an "Eighty-eight Butterfly", Diaethria clymena,
photographed during a FONT tour in southeast Brazil in August 2009
Below: the same species photographed during
the FONT tour in Ecuador in April 2013
(both photos below by Marie Gardner)

And below: the same butterfly, yes it is, showing
the upperside. Diaethria clymena.

Diaethria astala ______
Diaethria astala astala ______ (MCA:105) (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia)
ASTALA EIGHTY-EIGHT (or Navy Eighty-Eight)

Diaethria ceryx ______ EC (EBE:64) (species either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)

Diaethria eluina ______ EC
Diaethria eluina eluina ______ ARne (MM:295) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Ochenta y Ocho Azul" (translates to "Blue Eighty-Eight")

Diaethria candrena (ph) ______
Diaethria candrena candrena ______ ARba,ne (BB:245) (MM:296) (subspecies in Argentina)
CANDRENA EIGHTY-EIGHT
AR common name: Ochenta (translates to "Eighty")

A Candrena Eighty-Eight, or more appropriately "Eighty"
Diaethria candrena
(photo by Ismail Eren)

Diaethria euclides ______ EC (EBE:64)

Diaethria gabaza ______ EC
Diaethria gabaza eupepla ______ (MCA:105) (subspecies from Guatemala to Colombia)
SMUDGED EIGHTY-EIGHT (or Lipstick Eighty-Eight)
Diaethria neglecta ______ EC
Diaethria nystographa ______ EC

Genus CALLICORE

In Ecuador, there are 14 beautiful species in CALLICORE, another genus with hindwings showing "number-like" designs.
They, like those in DIAETHRIA, feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter, and butterflies in both genera visit riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
As with DIAETHRIA, host plants are in Sapindaceae.

Callicore pitheas ______ EC (DV1:25) (MCA:104)
TWO-EYED EIGHTY-EIGHT
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela & Ecuador)

Callicore astarte ______ EC (MCA:104)
Callicore astarte staudingeri ______ (subspecies in Panama, Colombia, Venezuela)
BLUE-STITCHED EIGHTY-EIGHT

Callicore atacama ______ EC (DV1:25)
YELLOW-BANDED EIGHTY-EIGHT
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia)

Callicore brome ______ EC (DV1:25) (MCA:104)
FOUR-SPOTTED EIGHTY-EIGHT
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador)

Callicore cynosura ______ EC
Callicore cynosura cynosura ______ EC (EBE:65) subspecies in Ecuador

Callicore felderi ______ EC

Callicore pygas (ph) ______ AR BR EC
Callicore pygas cyllene ______ EC (EBE:65) subspecies in Ecuador
Callicore pygas thamyras ______ ARne BRmg (MM:297) subspecies in Brazil and northeast Argentina
PYGAS EIGHTY-EIGHT
AR common name: Para Guasu (regarding the name: "Para" & "Guasu" are Guarani words meaning, respectively, "full of colors" and "big")

Pygas Eighty-eight, at Iguazu Falls
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Callicore hesperis ______ EC (EBE:65)

Callicore hydaspes (ph) ______ ARne (MM:298)
HYDASPES EIGHTY-EIGHT
AR common name: Para Mini (regarding the name: "Para" & "Mini" are Guarani words meaning, respectively, "full of colors" and "small")

A Hydaspes Eighty-eight at Iguazu Falls, on a person's thumb
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Callicore hystaspes ______ BRmg EC
Callicore hystaspes hystaspes ______ EC (EBE:65)
HYSTASPES EIGHTY-EIGHT

Callicore eunomia ______ EC
Callicore eunomia eunomia ______ (EBE:65)

Callicore excelsior ______ EC

Callicore sorana sorana ______ ARne (MM:299) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Para Zigzag ("Zigzag Para")
Callicore texa ______ BRmg EC
Callicore texa titania ______ (MCA:104) (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia)
YELLOW-RIMMED EIGHTY-EIGHT
Callicore tolima ______
Callicore tolima chimana ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
BLUE-AND-ORANGE EIGHTY-EIGHT
Callicore lyca ______
Callicore lyca odilia ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
SIX-SPOTTED EIGHTY-EIGHT

Genus PERISAMA

PERISAMA is a diverse group. In Ecuador, there are about 25 species, mostly in foothills and cloud forests.
They feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter, and they visit riverbanks and wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants are probably in Sapindaceae.
Perisama aldasi ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, species described in 1996)
Perisama alicia ______ EC
Perisama ambatensis ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Perisama bomplandii ______ EC
Perisama bomplandii equatorialis ______ (EBE:66) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Perisama canoma ______ EC
Perisama clisithera ______ EC
Perisama cloelia ______ EC
Perisama comnena ______ EC
Perisama dorbignyi ______ EC
Perisama euriclea ______ EC
Perisama guerini ______ EC
Perisama hazarma ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Perisama hilara ______ EC
Perisama humboldtii ______ EC
Perisama humboldtii humboldtii ______ (EBE:66) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Perisama ilia (ph) ______ EC

Perisama ilia ilia
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Perisama koenigi ______ EC (species described in 1995)
Perisama lanice ______ EC
Perisama lebasii ______ EC
Perisama oppelii (ph) ______ EC
Perisama oppelii erebina ______ (EBE:66) (subspecies in Ecuador)

Perisama oppelii
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Perisama ouma ______ EC
Perisama paralicia ______ EC
Perisama patara ______ EC
Perisama philinus ______ EC
Perisama tringa ______ EC
Perisama tryphena ______ EC
Perisama yeba ______ EC

Genus OROPHILA
Orophila cardases ______ EC
Orophila diotima (ph) ______ EC in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
DIOTIMA JEWEL

the Diotima Jewel, Orophila diotima
too close to photograph, at least with that camera
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus ANTIGONIS
Antigonis pharsalia ______ EC

Genus MESOTAENIA
Mesotaenia vaninka ______ EC (EBE:66)

Genus PAULOGRAMMA
Paulogramma pyracmon ______ AR BRmg EC
Paulogramma pyracmon peristera ______ EC (EBE:65)
Paulogramma pyracmon pyracmon ______ ARne (MM:300)
PYRACMON EIGHT-EIGHT
AR common name: Para Mediana (translates to "Medium Para")

Genus CATACORE
Catacore kolyma ______ EC

Subfamily LIMENITIDINAE, Tribe LIMENITIDINI: ADMIRALS

Adults are often characterized by flap-and-glide flight.

Genus ADELPHA: SISTERS

With more than 55 species in all, ADELPHA is one of the most diverse butterfly genera in Ecuador.
The genus occurs in tropical areas and cloud forests. Only a few species are really common.
Most species in the genus look very much alike, and so are hard to identify.
They feed on rotten fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants include: Urticaceae (Cecropia spp.), and Rubiaceae (for example, Psychotria spp., Uncaria spp., Sabicea spp.)

Adelpha abia (ph) ______ ARne (MM:278)
ABIA SISTER
AR common name: Abia

Abia Sister

Adelpha argentea ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, described in 1995)

Adelpha aricia ______ EC

Adelpha alala (ph) ______ EC

Adelpha alala
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Adelpha attica ______ EC
Adelpha attica hemileuca ______ (subspecies in northwest Ecuador & western Colombia)
ATTICA SISTER

Adelpha basiloides ______ EC

Adelpha barnesia ______ EC
Adelpha barnesia leucas ______ (MCA:99) (subspecies from Mexico to northwest Venezuela & western Ecuador)
BARNESIA SISTER (or Barnes' Sister)

Adelpha boeotia ______ EC (DV1:26)
Adelpha boeotia boeotia ______ (subspecies from eastern Panama to Bolivia, southwest Brazil, & the Guianas)
BOEOTIA SISTER
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Adelpha boreas ______ EC (DV1:26) (MCA:100)
Adelpha boreas boreas ______ (subspecies from eastern Costa Rica to Venezuela & Bolivia)
BOREAS SISTER (or Felder's Sister)
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia)

Adelpha capucinus ______ EC

Adelpha cocala ______ EC (C:227) (DV:26)
Adelpha cocala lorzae ______ (MCA:100) (subspecies from Mexico to northwest Venezuela & western Ecuador)
ORANGE-WASHED SISTER
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon River)

Adelpha cocala ______ BRmg
COCALA SISTER

Adelpha corcyra ______ EC

Adelpha cytherea ______ EC (DV1:26) (MCA:98) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Adelpha cytherea daguana ______ (EBE:83) (subspecies from eastern Costa Rica to northwest Venezuela and western Ecuador)
CYTHEREA SISTER (or Smooth-banded Sister)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Adelpha delinita ______ EC (DV1:50) (EBE:82) (MCA:100)
DELINITA SISTER (or Delineated Sister)
(Range: Honduras to Ecuador)

Adelpha ethelda ______ EC

Adelpha epione (ph) ______ EC
Adelpha epione agilla ______ EC (EBE:84)

Adelpha epione
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Adelpha erotia ______ EC (DV1:27) (EBE:82) (MCA:100)
Adelpha erotia erotia ______ subspecies from Costa Rica to Bolivia, Amazonian Brazil, and the Guianas
EROTIA SISTER (or Stitched Sister)
(Range: Mexico to Bolivia & Brazil)

Adelpha erymanthis ______ EC

Adelpha fabricia ______ EC

Adelpha falcipennis ______ ARne (MM:280) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Adelpha Ocre (translates to "Ochre Adelpha", referring to coloring on the ventral side)

Adelpha heraclea ______ EC (DV1:26)
Adelpha heraclea heraclea ______ (subspecies from Guatemala to southeast Peru, Brazil)
HERACLEA SISTER
(Range: Nicaragua to Venezuela)

Adelpha hesterbergi ______ EC (species either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, described in 1999)
HESTERBERG'S SISTER
(Range: Costa Rica, northwestern Ecuador)

Adelpha hyas ______ EC

Adelpha iphiclus (ph) ______ BRmg EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Adelpha iphiclus iphiclus ______ EC (DV1:27) (EBE:84) (MCA:99) subspecies from Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil; also the Guianas, and Trinidad
IPHICLUS SISTER (another name is Pointer Sister)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

Adelpha iphiclus, the Iphiclus Sister

Adelpha iphicleola ______ EC

Adelpha irmina ______ EC

Adelpha ixia ______ (DV1:27)
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela)

Adelpha jordani ______ EC

Adelpha justina ______ EC (DV1:26)
Adelpha justina justina ______ (EBE:83)
(Range: Guatemala to Peru)

Adelpha lamasi ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, species described in 1999)

Adelpha lerna ______ (DV1:27)
(Range: Nicaragua to the Amazon Basin)

Adelpha leuceria ______ EC

Adelpha leucophthalma ______ EC (DV1:26)
Adelpha leucophthalma leucophthalma ______ subspecies from Nicaragua to Colombia
LEUCOPHTHALMA SISTER
(Range: Nicaragua to Colombia, possibly Peru)

Adelpha lycorias (ph) ______ AR EC (DV1:26) (MCA:101)
Adelpha lycorias spruceana ______ EC (EBE:84) subspecies in Ecuador
Adelpha lycorias lycorias ______ ARne (MM:274) subspecies in northeast Argentina
PINK-BANDED SISTER (or Rayed Sister)
R common name: Mancha Bermellon (translates to "vermilion spot")
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Adelpha melanthe now merged into Adelpha lycorias as a subspecies.

Adelpha lycorias lycorias
(photo by Jorge Bizarro)

Adelpha malea ______ AR EC
Adelpha malea fundania ______ (MCA:99) subspecies from eastern Mexico to northwest Venezuela
Adelpha malea goyama ______ AR:ne (MM:277) subspecies in northeast Argentina
FUNDANIA SISTER (or Venezuelan Sister)
AR common name: Goyama

Adelpha melona ______ AR EC
Adelpha melona leucocoma ______ EC (EBE:83) subspecies in Ecuador
Adelpha melona pseudarete ______ ARne (MM:283) subspecies in northeast Argentina
MELLONA SISTER
AR common name: Melona

Adelpha mesentina ______ BRmg EC (EBE:82)
ORANGE SISTER

Adelpha messana ______ EC
Adelpha messana messana ______ subspecies from Guatemala to northwest Ecuador and northwest Venezuela
MESSANA SISTER
Adelpha mythra ______ ARne (MM:276)
AR common name: Mithra, the name relating to Mithra who was a Persian god.

Adelpha naxia ______ EC
Adelpha naxia naxia ______ (DV1:27) (MCA:99) subspecies from Mexico to the Guianas, the Brazilian Amazon, Bolivia
NAXIA SISTER (or Two-part Sister)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Adelpha nea ______ (MCA:98)
Adelpha nea nea _____ subspecies from Costa Rica to Venezuela and the Guianas, and to southern Peru and Amazonian Brazil
NEA SISTER (or Scarce Sister)

Adelpha olynthia ______ EC

Adelpha paraena ______ EC (MCA:97)
Adelpha paraena lecromi ______ subspecies in Panama & northern Colombia, subspecies described in 2003
LE CROM'S SISTER (further north called Bates' Sister)

Adelpha phylaca ______ EC (DV1:27) (EBE:83)
Adelpha phylaca pseudaethalia ______ (MCA:100) subspecies from Mexico to northwest Venezuela and western Ecuador
PHYLACA SISTER (or Cecropia Sister)
(Range: Guatemala to Bolivia)

Adelpha plesaure ______ BRmg EC
PLESAURE SISTER

Adelpha pollina ______ EC

Adelpha radiata ______ EC
Adelpha radiata aiellae ______ subspecies from Panama to northwest Ecuador, subspecies described in 1999

Adelpha salmoneus ______ EC (DV1:26) (MCA:101)
GOLD-BANDED SISTER
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela and Ecuador)

Adelpha rothschildi (ph) ______ EC (EBE:82)

Adelpha rothchildi
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Adelpha salus ______ EC

Adelpha saundersii ______ EC

Adelpha serpa (ph) ______ EC
Adelpha serpa celerio ______ EC (DV1:27) (EBE:83) (MCA:97) subspecies from Mexico to Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela
Adelpha serpa serpa ______ AR:ne (MM:279) subspecies in northeast Argentina
SERPA SISTER (or Celadon Sister)
AR common name: Serpa
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Adelpha serpa serpa
(photo by Jorge Bizarro)

Adelpha seriphia ______ EC
Adelpha seriphia godmani ______ (MCA:97) (subspecies to southern Mexico to western Ecuador)
SERIPHIA SISTER (or Dentate Sister)
Adelpha shuara ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador, described in 1995)
Adelpha sichaeus ______ EC
Adelpha syma ______ ARba,ne (BB:241) (MM:275)
AR common name: Syma (referring to the scientific name)
Adelpha thesprotia ______ EC
Adelpha thessalia ______ EC
Adelpha thessalia indefecta ______ ARne (MM:281) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Tesala del Nordeste (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Tesala del Nordeste (translates to "Northeastern Tesela")

Adelpha thoasa ______ EC

Adelpha viola ______ EC

Adelpha ximena ______ EC

Adelpha zea ______ ARba,ne (BB:243) (DV1:27) (MM:282)
AR common name: Zea
(Range: Mexico to the Argentina)

Adelpha zina ______ EC (DV1:26)
Adelpha zina zina ______ (subspecies from eastern Panama to Venezuela & southwest Ecuador)
ZINA SISTER
(Range: Nicaragua to Peru)

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe VICTORININI

Genus SIPROETA (or METAMORPHA)

Siproeta (or Metamorpha) stelenes (ph) ______ AR BRse EC (EBE:78) (F:202) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Siproeta stelenes biplagiata ______ (DV1:28) (K:209) (MCA:96) (PE:26) subspecies from Mexico to the Amazon; also south Florida, Cuba, the Cayman Is.
Siproeta stelenes sophene ______ EC subspecies in western Ecuador
Siproeta stelenes stelenes ______ EC subspecies in eastern, Amazonian Ecuador
Siproeta stelenes meridionalis ______ ARne (MM:329) subspecies in northeast Argentina
MALACHITE
an AR common name: Itaovy Guasu (translates to "Large Emerald") (from Guarani words, alluding to its color, size, and beauty)
(Range: southern US to northern Argentina, and thru West Indies)

The Malachite is on the wing all year in the tropics. It feeds on fermenting fruit. It can be common and conspicuous in open and agricultural areas, and at times occurs at forest edges.
In Ecuador, it occurs up to 4,500 feet above sea level on both slopes.
It feeds on nectar, rotten fruit, and other organic matter, and it frequents wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: in Acanthaceae.

The Malachite is very similar to Philaethria dido, the Scarce Bamboo Page in the subfamily HELICONIINAE.

Above & below: Malachites
The photo below on a Poinsettia plant in Southeast Brazil during the FONT tour in May 2011.
(photo below by Pat Yoder)

Siproeta epaphus (ph) ______ AR EC (EBE:24) (S:136)
Siproeta epaphus epaphus ______ (DV1:28) (EBE:77) (K:209) (MCA:96) subspecies from south Texas to Peru
Siproeta epaphus trayja ______ ARne (MM:320) subspecies in northeast Argentina
RUSTY-TIPPED PAGE (or Brown Siproeta)
AR common name: Epafos Moreno ("Dark Epafos") (referring to Epafos who in mythology, was Jupiter's son)
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

In Ecuador, Siproeta epaphus is abundant, big and conspicuous in open and agricultural areas, and sometimes at forest edges. It is found in the Amazon and in the area of the Coast, and up to 2,000 meters above sea level in cloud forests.
It feeds on nectar, rotten fruit, and other organic matter. It also visits wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants: in Acanthaceae.

A Rusty-tipped Page photographed during a FONT Tour
(photo by Rosemary Lloyd)

Genus METAMORPHA
Metamorpha elissa ______ EC (EBE:76)
Metamorpha elissa elissa ______(subspecies from Panama to the Guianas and Peru)
METAMORPHA

In Ecuador, Metamorpha elissa is relatively common in the Amazon region, in open areas and forest borders, up to about 3,500 feet above sea level. It sits over vegetation or on wet soils.

Genus ANARTIA

Anartia fatima (ph) ______ (MCA:94)
Anartia fatima fatima ______ (subspecies from south Texas to northwest Colombia)
BANDED PEACOCK

Anartia amathea (ph) ______ EC (C:311) (EBE:24,75) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Anartia amathea roeselia ______ ARba,ne (BB:265) (MM:327) (subspecies from Panama to Argentina & in some of the Lesser Antilles)
RED PEACOCK
AR common name: Princesa Roja (translates to (translates to "Red Princess")
(Range: Panama to Argentina, also: Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua)

In Ecuador, the Red Peacock is abundant in open and agricultural areas, with some at forest edges. It occurs in the Amazon and in the area of the Coast, and up to 6,000 feet above sea level in the cloud forest.
It feeds on nectar, rotten fruit, or organic matter, and also frequents et soils for mineral salts.
Host plants are in Acanthaceae, Verbanaceae, Scrophulariaceae.

A Red Peacock, photographed during
the FONT tour in Ecuador in April 2014
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Anartia jatrophae (ph) ______ EC (C:309) (DV1:28) (K:209) (MCA:94) (PE:24) (S:107) (species described by Linnaeus in 1763)
Anartia jatrophae jatrophae ______ ARne (EBE:18,76) (MM:326) (subspecies in South America & in the Lesser Antilles)
WHITE PEACOCK
AR common name: Princesa Perlada (Princesa, or Princess, is the common Spanish name for the ANARTIA genus butterflies; "Perlada" refers to the wing coloring)
(Range: southern US thru Central & South America, also West Indies)

In Ecuador, the White Peacock is less common than the Red Peacock, but still it is a common species.
Anartia jatrophae occurs in open and agricultural areas, and sometimes at forest edges. It ranges in the Amazon and in the area of the Coast, as well as up to 6,000 feet above sea level in cloud forests.
It feeds on nectar, rotten fruit, and other organic matter, and visits wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants are in Acanthaceae, Verbenaceae, Scrophulaceae.

A White Peacock photographed during the FONT Ecuador Tour in July 2013
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe JUNONIINI

Genus JUNONIA: BUCKEYES

The number of species of buckeyes in Central & South America, and the West Indies is uncertain.
If there is more than 1 species, their ranges are uncertain.

Junonia evarete ______ EC (D1:28) (EBE:71) (F:168) (K:207) (MCA:94) (PE:23)
Junonia evarete evarete ______ (subspecies in northeastern South America)
TROPICAL BUCKEYE
(Range: southern US thru the American tropics)

In Ecuador, Junonia evarete is along in the Coastal area and in the Amazon, and in the southern Andes up to about 1,800 meters (5,400 feet) above sea level, generally in agricultural and open areas.
It is a pollinator species. Host plants are in various families, including Verbenaceae.

Above: a Tropical Buckeye photographed during the FONT tour
in Ecuador in May 2014, along the coast
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Below: another Buckeye photographed in South America
(photo by Sherry C. Nelson)
Junonia genoveva ______ EC (K:207) (MCA:94) (PE:23)
Junonia genoveva genoveva ______ (subspecies in Surinam)
Junonia genoveva vivida ______ (subspecies in Surinam, Guyana)
Junonia genoveva constricta ______ (subspecies in Venezuela & Colombia)
Junonia genoveva incarnata ______ (subspecies in Venezuela & Colombia)
Junonia geneveva infuscata ______ (subspecies in Ecuador)
Junonia genoveva hilaris ______ ARba,ne (BB:263) (MM:328) (subspecies in Paraguay, northeast Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay)
MANGROVE BUCKEYE (in the West Indies called the Caribbean Buckeye; other names are Smoky Buckeye, Florida Buckeye, West Indian Buckeye)
AR common name: Pavo Real ("Peacock") (another name: Genoveva)
(Range: southern US to Argentina)
Junonia vestina ______ EC

Genus HYPOLIMNAS

Hypolimnas misippus (ph) ______ EC (DV1:28) (F:164) (species described by Linnaeus in 1764)
THE MIMIC (other names: Diadem Butterfly, Six-continent Butterfly, Danaid Butterfly)
(Range: distribution nearly worldwide; occurs in northeastern South America)

The female of Hypolimnas misippus resembles Danaus chrysippus of the Old World, with coloration similar to Danaus glippus, the Queen.

Subfamily NYMPHALINAE, Tribe MELITAEINI

Genera in this group include: Chlosyne, Tegosa, Ortilia, Eresia, Castilia, Telenassa, Anthanassa (all following here).
Also: Janatella, Phystis, Mazia, Dagon, Gnathotriche, Higginsius.
These butterflies occur in tropical zones and cloud forests.
They are usually small. Some mimic inedible species.
In Ecuador, the genus Eresia is the most numerous of these genera, with about 15 species.
Butterflies in this subfamily feed on nectar, rotten fruit, and other organic matter. They also visit wet soils for mineral salts.
Host plants include those in: Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Urticacae, Scrophularlaceae, and other families.

Genus CHLOSYNE: PATCHES

Chlosyne lacinia (ph) ______ EC (C:265) (DV1:29) (K:189) (MCA:82) (PE:21)
Chlosyne lacinia saundersi ______ ARne (EBE:72) (MM:337) (subspecies in Ecuador & northeast Argentina)
BORDERED PATCH
AR common name: Naranjita
(Range: US to northern Argentina)

Chlosyne lacinia has a very variable pattern. It prefers sunny places and feeds on nectar.

Above & below: Bordered Patch

This lower photo is of a dark Bordered Patch.
Those in the Iguazu area have more orange in the upperwings, hence the common name there of "Naranjita".
(above photos by Doris Potter)

Chlosyne poecile ______ (DV1:29)
POECILE CHECKERSPOT
(Range: southwestern Costa Rica to Venezuela)

Chlosyne narva ______ (DV1:29)
Chlosyne narva narva ______ (subspecies from Nicaragua to Venezuela)
Chlosyne narva bonpland ______ (subspecies from Costa Rica to western Ecuador)
NARVA CHECKERSPOT
(Range: Nicaragua to Venezuela & Ecuador)
Chlosyne janais (ph) ______ (MCA:82)
Chlosyne janais janais ______ (subspecies from the southern US to Colombia)
CRIMSON-PATCH CHECKERSPOT (also called Crimson Patch)

A Crimson-patch Checkerspot, or Crimson Patch
Chlosyne hippodrome ______ (MCA:83)
Chlosyne hippodrome hippodrome ______ (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia)
SIMPLE CHECKERSPOT
Chlosyne perlula ______
PERULA CHECKERSPOT
(Range: Venezuela & Colombia)

Genus TEGOSA

Tegosa anieta (ph) ______ EC (MCA:88) (EBE:72)
Tegosa anieta anieta ______ (DV1:29)
BLACK-BORDERED CRESCENT (or Black-bordered Tegosa)
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador & Venezuela, also Trinidad)

A Black-bordered Crescent, Tegosa anieta,
photographed during a FONT tour in Ecuador
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Tegosa etia ______ EC

Tegosa flavida ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)

Tegosa guatemalena ______ EC

Tegosa pastazena ______ EC

Tegosa selene ______ EC

Tegosa tissoides ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Tegosa serpia ______ BRmg
SERPIA CRESCENT

Tegosa frisia ______
Tegosa frisia hermas ______ ARne (MM:331)
AR common name: Saipicada (translates to "Splashy")

Tegosa claudina ______ ARba,ne EC (BB:267) (MCA:88) (MM:332)
CLAUDINA CRESCENT
AR common name: Claudina (referring to the scientific name)
Tegosa orobia ______ ARba (BB:269)
AR common name: Incienso (referring to the scientific name "orobia" which means "incense")

Tegosa orobia can be confused with Tegosa claudina.
T. orobia occurs in flowery scrubland in northeast Buenos Aires province, Argentina.

Genus ORTILIA genus created in 1981

A butterfly in the Ortilia genus photographed in northern South America
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Ortilia liriope ______ EC

Ortilia ithra ______ ARba,ne (BB:273) (MM:333)
AR common name: Mbatara (a Guarani word meaning "lead-colored", with short white lines)

Ortilia ithra is common in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. It occurs with others in the genus.

Ortilia velica ______
Ortilia velica durnfordi ______ ARba,ne (BB:271) (MM:334) (subspecies in Argentina)
AR common name: Marroncita (translates to "Small Brown")

Ortilia dicoma ______ ARne (MM:335)
AR common name: Alitas Largas (translates to "Long Wings")

Genus ERESIA

Eresia ithomioides ______ EC
Eresia ithomioides eutropia (or melania) ______ (subspecies from Costa Rica to western Colombia)
Eresia ithomioides cissia ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
VARIABLE CRESCENT

Eresia eunice ______ EC
Eresia eunice drypetis ______ EC (subspecies in Panama, Colombia, & northwest Ecuador)
Eresia eunice mechanitis ______ EC (EBE:74) (subspecies in Ecuador)
EUNICE CRESCENT

Eresia alsina ______ (MCA:86)
Eresia alsina quintilla ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
THREE-BANDED CRESCENT

Eresia actinote ______ EC

Eresia carme ______ EC

Eresia casiphia ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)

Eresia clio ______ BRmg EC (DV1:30) (MCA:87) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Eresia clio clara ______ EC (EBE:74) subspecies in Ecuador
Eresia clio reducta ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
CREAMY CRESCENT (or Clio Crescent)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

The former Eresia clara is now included in Eresia clio as a subspecies (an noted above).

Eresia datis ______ EC

Eresia emerantia ______ EC

Eresia letitia ______ EC

Eresia levina (ph) ______ EC

Eresia levina
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Eresia nauplius ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)

Eresia pelonia ______ EC
Eresia pelonia callonia ______ EC (EBE:74) subspecies in Ecuador

Eresia perna ______ EC

Eresia poecilina ______
Eresia poecilina casiphia ______ EC (EBE:74) subspecies in northwest Ecuador

Eresia polina ______ EC

Eresia lansdorfi (ph) ______ ARba,ne (BB:275) (MM:336)
AR common name: Falsa Erato ("False Erato") (name refers to its resemblance to Heliconius erato phyllis)

Above & below: Eresia lansdorfi, the "False Erato",
photographed at Iguazu Falls
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus CASTILIA

Castilia eranites ______ EC (DV1:30) (EBE:73) (MCA:86)
MIMIC CRESCENT (or Smudged Crescent)
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela)

Castilia ofella ______ EC (DV1:30) (MCA:87)
WHITE-DOTTED CRESCENT
(Range: Guatemala to Venezuela, also Trinidad)
Castilla angusta ______ EC
Castilia castilla ______ EC
Castilia castilla occidentalis ______ (EBE:73) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Castilia guaya ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Castilia neria ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Castilia perilla ______ EC
Castilia perilla perilla ______ (EBE:73) (subspecies in Ecuador)

Genus JANATELLA

Janatella leucodesma ______ (DV1:30)
WHITENED CRESCENT
(Range: Nicaragua to Venezuela, also Trinidad)

Genus TELENASSA
Telenassa berenice ______ EC
Telenassa delphia ______ EC
Telenassa delphia gaujoni ______ EC (EBE:73) subspecies in Ecuador
Telenassa jana ______ EC (EBE:73)
Telenassa teletusa ______ EC
Telenassa teletusa burchelli ______ BRmg EC (EBE:73) subspecies in Brazil and Ecuador
BURCHELL'S CRESCENT

Genus ANTHANASSA (or PHYCIODES): CRESCENTS

Anthanassa (or Phyciodes) drusilla ______ EC (DV1:30) (EBE:72) (MCA:90)
ORANGE-PATCHED CRESCENT
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela & Ecuador)

Anthanassa (or Phyciodes) ptolyca ______ (DV1:30) (K:183) (MCA:91) (PE:21)
Anthanassa ptolyca ptoyca ______ subspecies from Mexico to Venezuela
DARKENED CRESCENT (or Black Crescent)
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela)
Anthanassa ardys ______ EC (MCA:90)
ARDYS CRESCENT (or Ardent Crescent)
(Range: Mexico to Colombia)
Anthanassa sosis (or dora) ______
SOSIS CRESCENT
(Range: Costa Rica to Colombia)
Anthanassa annulata ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Anthanassa frisia (ph) ______ EC (EBE:72)
Anthanassa frisia taeniata ______ EC (subspecies in western Ecuador & Peru)
CUBAN CRESCENT

Anthanassa frisia taeniata photographed during
the FONT tour in Ecuador in May 2014
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Genus PHYSTIS: genus created in 1981
Phystis simois ______ EC

Genus MAZIA: genus created in 1981
Mazia amazonica ______ EC

Genus DAGON: genus created in 1981
Dagon pusilla (ph) ______ EC

Dagon pusilla
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus GNATHOTRICHE
Gnathotriche exclamationis ______ EC
Gnathotriche mundina ______ EC

Genus HIGGINSIUS: genus created in 1964
Higginsius fasciata ______ EC
Higginsius miriam ______ EC

Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe HELICONIINI: LONGWINGS

Mostly in the American tropics. Adults of some species are long-lived, and several are distasteful. Various other species mimic the distasteful butterflies of this group.

Genus NERUDA genus created in 1976
Neruda aoede ______ EC

Genus PHILAETHRIA: two nearly identical species which may be differentiated only by comparing their underwings.
Philaethria dido ______ EC (DA:92) (DV1:31) (EBE:50,92) (S:164) (species described by Linnaeus in 1763)
SCARCE BAMBOO PAGE
(Range: southern Mexico to the Amazon Basin in Brazil; also Trinidad)

Philaethria dido is a spectacular large and bright green species. It is very similar to the Malachite, Siproeta stelenes.
It is more associated with primary forests than other longwings, but it is also seen in open areas.
Generally, Philaethria dido flies high in the tree canopy, but on occasion descends to drink and take in salts from the damp ground.
The costal margins and the transverse band of the hindwings of Philaethria dido are chocolate-colored.

In Ecuador, Philaethria dido is found in coastal areas and in the Amazon, often on wet soil and decaying organic matter.
Host plants: in Passifloraceae.
Philaethria wernickei ______ ARne (DA:text) (MM:340)
AR common name: Itaovy Rabona (translates to "Tailless Itaovy") (Itaovy is a Guarani word meaning "emerald")
(Range: southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina)

The costal margins and the transverse band of the hindwings of Philaethria wernickei are gray.

Genus PODOTRICHA: 2 species occurring at medium to high elevations in the Andes.
Podotricha judith (ph) ______ EC (EBE:91,179,213)

In Ecuador, Podotricha judith is relatively common in eastern and western cloud forests up to 2,300 meters above sea level. it is found close to estuaries and on wet soils extracting mineral salts.
Host plants: Passifloraceae.

Podotricha judith
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Podotricha telesiphe (ph) ______ EC
Podotricha telesiphe tithraustes ______ (DA:93)
TELESIPHE LONGWING
(Occurs in Ecuador & Peru, from 2,500 to 9,000 feet).

Telesiphe Longwing, Podotricha telesiphe
(photo courtesy of Sherry Nelson)

Genus DIONE

Dione moneta (ph) ______ EC (C:267) (DV1:31) (F:143) (K:155) (MCA:80) (PE:19)
Dione moneta butleri ______ EC (EBE:90) subspecies in Ecuador
MEXICAN SILVERSPOT
(Range: southern US thru Central and South America)

Mexican Silverspot
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Dione juno ______ AR EC (DV1:31) (EBE:23) (MCA:80) (S:161)
Dione juno juno ______ ECnw (EBE:90)   subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Dione juno andicola ______ EC (EBE:90)   subspecies in Ecuador
Dione juno suffumata ______ ARba,ne (BB:281) (MM:343)   subspecies in Argentina
JUNO LONGWING (other names are Silver Spot or Scarce Silver-spotted Flambeau)
AR common name: Juno Obscura (translates to "Dark Juno") (Juno in mythology was a Greek goddess, a dark, relating to D. j. suffumata, is in comparison with another Argentine subspecies.)
(Range: thru Central and South America, also the Lesser Antilles)

Dione juno is closely related to Dryas iulia.
Dione juno often occurs in the same places as the similar Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae. It (Dione juno) is said to be attracted to red and blue flowers.
Dione glycera (ph) ______ CH EC (EBE:90,179) (WGC:101)
ANDEAN SILVERSPOT
CH common name: Mariposa Dione
(Range: in Chile, in Arica and Tarapaca, where it occurs in open and deforested areas, villages and towns, and in mid-elevation valleys)

Andean Silverspot
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Genus AGRAULIS: a single well-known species which occurs in a number of races throughout its vast range.

Agraulis vanillae (ph) ______ AR EC (C:269) (DV1:31) (EBE:23) (F:144) (K:157) (MCA:80) (PE:19) (S:160) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Agraulis vanillae lucina ______ EC (EBE:89) subspecies in Ecuador
Agraulis vanillae galapagensis ______ (EBE:89) subspecies in the Galapagos Islands
Agraulis vanillae maculosa ______ ARba,ne (BB:283) (DA:93) (MM:343) subspecies in Argentina
GULF FRITILLARY (another name, particularly in the West Indies: Silver-spotted Flambeau)
AR common name: Espejitos (translates to "Mirrors", referring to the silver spots on the ventral side, that appear as fragments of a mirror)
BR common name: Pingos de Prata
(Range: southern US thru American tropics to South America, also West Indies)

The widespread and familiar Agraulis vanillae, or Gulf Fritillary, visits gardens to drink nectar.
Its fiery orange upperside is distinguished from Dryas iulia by presence of numerous black dots on the forewing and a silver spotted underside.

Above & below: the Gulf Fritillary, the upperside and underside
(photo above by Howard Eskin; photo below by Sherry Nelson)

Genus DRYADULA

Dryadula phaetusa (ph) ______ ARne EC (DV1:31) (K:155) (MCA:80) (MM:344) (PE:19) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
BANDED LONGWING (other names have been Banded Orange Heliconian,or Banded Orange)
AR common name: Faetusa (referring to Phaetusa, who in mythology, was the Sun's daughter, and Phaeton's sister.)
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)

A Banded Longwing, or Banded Orange Heliconian photographed during a FONT tour in Brazil

Genus DRYAS

Dryas iulia (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (C:301) (DA:94) (DV1:31) (F:145) (K:157) (MCA:80) (PE:19) (S:159)
Dryas iulia moderata ______ ECnw (EBE:91) subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Dryas iulia alcionea ______ ARba,ne EC (BB:279) (EBE:91) (MM:342) subspecies in Ecuador and Argentina
JULIA HELICONIAN (or Julia) (another name, particularly in the West Indies: The Flambeau)
AR common name: Julia
(Range: southern US thru American tropics to Brazil, also West Indies)

Dryas iulia visits open sunny and flowery areas (often wet ground), and breeds on the passion flower.

Two photos of Julia Heliconians; the lower photo during a FONT tour in Brazil

Genus EUEIDES: a genus of about a dozen species that's remarkable for the lack of conformity of its members. Some resemble DANAIDAE (Ituna), ACRAEIDAE (Actinote), ITHOMIIDAE (Mechanitis) and the genus HELICONIUS.

Eueides aliphera (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (DA:94) (DV1:31) (MCA:80) (S:161)
Eueides aliphera aliphera ______ ARne ECnw (EBE:88) (MM:348) subspecies in northwest Ecuador & northeast Argentina
FINE-LINED LONGWING (another name is Least Heliconian)
AR common name: Pequena Julia (translates to "Small Julia")
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina, including Trinidad & Tobago)

Eueides aliphera is a miniature of Dryas julia, both in wing shape and the variations of markings.

Fine-lined Longwing
Eueides procula ______ EC (DV1:31)
Eueides procula eurysaces ______ (EBE:88)
DARKENED LONGWING (another name is Nonpassionate Helioconian)
(Range: Guatemala to Brazil)

Eueides isabella (ph) ______ EC (DV1:31) (K:155) (MCA:80) (PE:20) (S:159)
Eueides isabella ecuadoriensis ______ ECnw (EBE:88) (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
Eueides isabella dianasa ______ ARne (MM:349) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
ISABELLA'S LONGWING (or Isabella, or Isabella Tiger)
AR common name: Isabel Meridional (translates to: Southern Isabel)
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina, also West Indies)

An Isabella's Heliconian photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Eueides vibilia ______ EC (DV1:31) (MCA:80)
Eueides vibilia unifasiatus ______ (EBE:88)
VIBILIA LONGWING (another name is Acting Heliconian)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)
Eueides lybia ______ EC (DV1:31)
Eueides lybia olympus ______ (subspecies from Nicaragua on the Caribbean slope to Colombia)
SHARP-EDGED LONGWING
(Range: Nicaragua to the Amazon Basin)
Eueides emsleyi ______ EC (species described in 1976)
Eueides heliconioides ______ EC
Eueides heliconioides heliconioides ______ (EBE:88)
Eueides lampeto ______ EC
Eueides tales ______ EC

Genus HELICONIUS (and LAPARUS): LONGWINGS

HELICONIUS butterflies are an important and interesting group of butterflies:
for being excellent pollinators,
for their co-evolution with Passifloraceae (passion-fruit flowers),
for their advanced mimetic systems,
and for their presence and beauty.
They can extract nutrients not only from nectar but also from pollen.
Many species are inedible for predators.
Host plants: Passifloraceae.

A Passiflora sp. in the Andes, during
the FONT Ecuador Tour in April 2014

Many HELICONIUS species have forms matching so closely that they are very difficult to distinguish.

Heliconius antiochus ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1767)

Heliconius ricini ______ (S:163)
RICINI LONGWING (another name is Small Heliconian)
(Range: the Amazon Basin)

Heliconius (or Laparus) doris ______ BRmg EC (DV1:31) (EBE:86) (F:160) (MCA:81) (S:162) (species described by Linnaeus in 1771)
Heliconius doris eratonia ______ (DA:98)
Heliconius doris aristomache ______ (DA:98)
Heliconius doris viridis ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
DORIS LONGWING (other names are Dot-bordered Heliconian, Rayed Heliconian, or the Doris Butterfly, or Doris)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Heliconius doris is trimorphic, in that it occurs in 3 color varieties. Individuals of either sex can have red, green, or blue coloration, in addition to the basic black pattern with yellow blotches. It occurs in forest margins and clearings.

Heliconius ismenius (ph) ______ EC (DV1:31) (MCA:80)
Heliconius ismenius telchinia ______ (DV1:31)
Heliconius ismenius metaphorus ______ (EBE:87)
TIGER-STRIPED LONGWING (or Tiger Heliconian)
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador)

Heliconius ismenius is a member of a color/pattern mimicry system with Dismorphia amphiona (in the PIERIDAE), Melinaea lilis or ethra (in ITHOMIINAE in the NYMPHALIDAE), Eresia mechanitis (in the NYMPHALIDAE), Hypothyris euclea (in ITHOMIINAE in the NYMPHALIDAE), and a diurnal moth.

Tiger-striped Longwing

Heliconius hecale (ph) ______ EC (DV1:31) (F:160) (MCA:81)
Heliconius hecale melicerta ______ subspecies in Panama and Colombia
Heliconius hecale australis ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Heliconius hecale eucherius ______ (DA:100)
Heliconius hecale barcanti ______ (DA:100)
HECALE LONGWING (or Heart-spotted Heliconian)
(Range: in Central and South America, from Mexico to the Guianas, Amazonas, and the eastern side of the Andes in Bolivia)

Heliconius hecale has a number of races.

Heliconias hecale is a member of a color/pattern mimicry system with Charonias eurytele (in the PIERIDAE), Dismorphia eunoe (in the PIERIDAE), Napeogenes peredia (in ITHOMIINI in the NYMPHALIDAE), Eresia coela (in the NYMPHALIDAE), and a diurnal moth.

Hecale Longwing

Heliconius melpomene (ph) ______ EC (C:307) (DV1:32) (F:161) (S:162) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Heliconius melpomene vulcanus ______ EC subspecies in Panama, Colombia and northwest Ecuador
Heliconius melpomene rosina ______ (DA:101)
Heliconius melpomene cythera ______ EC (DA:101) (EBE:87) subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Heliconius melpomene plesseni ______ EC (EBE:87) subspecies in eastern Ecuador
MELPOMENE LONGWING (other names are the Postman Heliconnian, or the Postman)
(Range: Mexico to Brazil)

Heliconius melpomene is slightly larger than its close relative, Heliconius erato, the Small Postman, with which it often flies.
Many species in the Heliconius genus have forms matching so closely that they very difficult to distinguish.

Parallel races of Heliconius melpomene and Heliconius erato mimic each other throughout the Neotropics, sharing the same patterns in the same geographic areas.
The length of the yellow ray can be used to differentiate the two species. It does not reach the edge of the wing in Heliconius melpomene.

The Postman, or Melpomene Longwing, Heliconius melpomene

Below: two photographs of the distinctive subspecies, Heliconius melpomene cythera
photographed during the FONT tour in Ecuador in July 2013
(photos by Marie Gardner)

And yet another subspecies looking very different is in the photograph below.
It is Heliconius melpomene plesseni, occurring in eastern Ecuador.
The butterfly below was photographed during the FONT Ecuador Tour in April 2014.
(photo by Marie Garner)

Heliconius cydno (ph) ______ EC (DV1:32) (EBE:86) (MCA:81)
Heliconius cydno cydno ______ (DA:102)
Heliconius cydno chioneus ______ subspecies from southeastern Costa Rica to Colombia
Heliconius cydno alithea ______ EC (EBE:87) subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Heliconius cydno galanthus ______ (DA:102)
CYDNO LONGWING (or Grinning Heliconian)
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador)

Some forms of Heliconius cydno resemble forms of Heliconius sapho, the Blue-and-white Heliconian, with which they fly.

Cydno Longwing
(photo by Sherry Nelson)
Heliconius erato (ph) ______ AR BR EC (DV1:32) (EBE:86) (F:160) (K:155) (MCA:81) (PE:19) (species described by Linnaeus in 1764)
Heliconius erato notabilis ______ (DA:103)
Heliconius erato cyrbia ______ ECw (DA:103)
Heliconius erato demophoon ______ (DA:104)
Heliconius erato hydara ______ (DA:104)
Heliconius erato venus ______ subspecies in western Colombia, in the choco
Heliconius erato luscombei ______ BRmg subspecies in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Heliconius erato phyllis ______ ARba,ne (BB:285) (MM:345) subspecies in Argentina
CRIMSON-PATCHED LONGWING (or Erato Heliconian)
AR common name: Erato (Erato was, in mythology, one of the nine muses; she presided over erotic poetry.)
a BR common name: Castanha Vermelha
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Heliconius erato flies close to the ground, along forest margins and in open areas. It roosts communally at night.

The Crimson-patched Longwing, or Erato Heliconian

Heliconius sara ______ EC (C:305) (DV1:32) (MCA:81)
Heliconius sara magdalena ______ subspecies in Colombia and Venezuela
Heliconius sara sprucei ______ EC (EBE:87,213) subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Heliconius sara sara ______ (DA:106)
SARA LONGWING (or Sara Heliconian,or Small Blue Grecian)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Although almost without variation in Central America, Heliconius sara has a number of different forms from Panama southwards.

Heliconius charithonia (ph) ______ EC (C:303) (DV1:32) (F:160) (K:155) (MCA:80) (PE:19) (S:160) (species described by Linnaeus in 1767)
Heliconius charithonia charithonia ______ (DA:105) (EBE:85)
ZEBRA LONGWING (or Zebra Heliconian, or the Zebra)
(Range: southern US thru Central and South America, also the West Indies)

The Zebra, or Heliconius charithonia, is a graceful butterfly that is a common sight in gardens and at roadside flowers. It roosts in small to large clusters, returning to the same roost night after night.
This species is very familiar to visitors of butterfly houses as it is easy to rear.

Zebra Longwing
(photo by Doug Johnson)

Heliconius hecalesia ______ EC (DV1:32) (MCA:81)
Heliconius hecalesia hecalesia ______ (DA:104) subspecies in eastern Panama and Colombia
Heliconius hecalesia eximius ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
FIVE-SPOTTED LONGWING (or Five-spotted Heliconian)
(Range: Mexico to Colombia)

Heliconius clysonymus (ph) ______ EC (DV1:32)
Heliconius clysonymus hygiana ______ (EBE:86)
MONTANE LONGWING (or Yellow-patch Longwing)
(Range: Honduras to Ecuador)

Montane Longwing
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Heliconius sapho ______ EC (DV1:32) (MCA:81)
Heliconius sapho candidus ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
Heliconius sapho leuce ______ (DA:106)
Heliconius sapho eleuchia ______ (DA:106)
SAPHO LONGWING (or Blue-and-white Heliconian)
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador)

Some forms of Heliconius sapho resemble forms of Heliconius cydno with which they fly.

Heliconius eleuchia ______ EC (DV1:32)
Heliconius eleuchia eleuchia ______ subspecies from Costa Rica to Colombia
Heliconius eleuchia primularis ______ EC subspecies in northwest Ecuador
WHITE-EDGED LONGWING
(Range: Costa Rica to Ecuador)

Heliconius atthis (ph) ______ ECnw (EBE:85) (species either endemic of nearly so to Ecuador)

Heliconius atthis, photographed during
the FONT tour in western Ecuador in July 2013
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Heliconius besckei ______ ARne (MM:346)
AR common name: Alemana (translates to "German", in that the coloring of the butterfly is like the German flag.)

Heliconius burneyi ______ EC

Heliconius congener ______ EC

Heliconius demeter ______ EC

Heliconius elevatus ______ EC

Heliconius ethilla ______ EC
Heliconius ethilla narcaea ______ ARne (MM:347) subspecies in northeast Argentina
TAWNY-STRIPED LONGWING
AR common name: Arcoiris (translates to "Rainbow")
BR common name: Maria Boba
Heliconius hierax ______ EC
Heliconius himera ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Heliconius hortense ______ EC
Heliconius leucadia ______ EC
Heliconius metharme ______ (DA:96)
(Range: Colombia, Peru, and Brazil - western Amazonas)

Heliconius metharme flies in the company of Heliconius doris.
Heliconius pardalinus ______ EC
Heliconius peruvianus ______ EC
Heliconius hecuba ______ EC (DA:96)
(Range: northern Colombia and the eastern slopes of the Andes south to Ecuador)

Heliconius hecuba is a variable species.
Heliconius xanthocles ______ EC (DA:96)
(Range: Colombia to Peru, also Brazil & the Guianas)

Heliconius xanthocles has a color and pattern resemblance to the PIERID Archonias bellona hyrnetho, and a day-flying ARCTIID moth Pericopis phyleis.
Heliconius wallacei ______ BRmg EC (DA:97)
Heliconius wallacei flavescens ______ EC (EBE:86)
WALLACE'S HELICONIAN
(Range: Colombia to Peru; also Brazil, the Guianas, and Trinidad)

Heliconius wallacei is a variable species, but distinguished by the presence of a greater or lesser amount of a dull steely blue color on the uppers.
Heliconius nattereri ______ (DA:98,99)
(Range: eastern Brazil)

This exquisite butterfly, Heliconius nattereri, is very rare, a threatened species.
Heliconius numata ______ EC
Heliconius numata idalion ______ (DA:99)   a subspecies in Colombia
Heliconius numata messene ______ (DA:99)   a subspecies in Colombia
Heliconius numata euphrasius ______ EC (EBE:85)
(Range: Colombia, Venezuela, Guianas, Brazil (western Amazonas) to Paraguay)
Heliconius hermathena ______
Heliconius hermathena rubopunctata ______ (DA:103)
(Range: Brazil, in the lower middle Amazon)

Heliconius hermathena is with variation, but can almost always be identified by the distinctive and beautiful greenish yellow streak on the upper forewing.
Heliconius telesiphe ______ EC
Heliconius telesiphe sotericus ______ (DA:105) (EBE:85)
(Range: southern Colombia to central Peru)

The form of Heliconius telesiphe that is yellow-banded on the hindwing strongly resembles another HELICONID, with which it often flies, Podotricha telesiphe.
Heliconius timareta ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)

Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe ARGYNNINI

Genus EUPTOIETA

Euptoieta claudia (ph) ______ AR CH (D1:32) (K:157) (MCA:79) (PE:4,20)
Euptoieta claudia hortensia ______ ARba,ne CH (BB:277) (MM:338) subspecies in Argentina and in Chile
VARIEGATED FRITILLARY
AR common name: Hortensia (the scientific epithet)
CH common name: Mariposa Hortensia
(Range: Canada thru Central & South America, also the West Indies. In Chile, from Coquimbo to Valdivia)

Variegated Fritillary
(photo by Howard Eskin)
Euptoieta hegesia (ph) ______ AR EC (MCA:79)
Euptoieta hegesia meridiania ______ ARne EC (EBE:92) (MM:339) subspecies in Ecuador and northeast Argentina
MEXICAN FRITILLARY
AR common name: Falsa Hortensia ("False Hortensia", alluding to its resemblance to Euptoleta claudia hortensia, with the common name Hortensia)

In Ecuador, Euptoieta hegesia is relatively common in open areas near the Coast and agricultural areas of the Amazon, up to 1,400 meters above sea level.
Host plants: in Passifloraceae (for example, Passiflora spp.), Turnera sp. (in Turneraceae), and Violaceae (for example Hybanthus).

Mexican Fritillary
Euptoieta sunides ______ EC

Genus YRAMEA
Yramea cytheris (ph) ______ CH
CYTHERIS FRITILLARY
CH common name: Mariposa Pintada Comun
(Range: in Chile, from Santiago to Magallanes)

Yramea cytheris is often seen resting on the ground.

A Cytheris Fritillary photographed in Chile in January 2012
(photo by Jim Zuckerman)
Yramea inca ______
Yramea lathonioides ______ CH
CH common name: Mariposa Pintada de la Altura
(Range: in Chile, from Atacama to Magallanes, in foothills and mountains)
Yramea modesta ______ CH
CH common name: Mariposita Pintada Chica
(Range: in Chile, from Coquimbo to Llanquihue, where it is uncommon in the high Andes)
Yramea sobrina ______
Yramea lynx ______

Subfamily HELICONIINAE, Tribe ACRAEINI

Genera ALTINOTE and ACTINOTE

In Ecuador, ALTINOTE and ACTINOTE (and ABANANOTE) butterflies are especially present in cloud forests, where they are found on wet soils or flying slowly in the forest or over open areas. They are generally toxic.
Host plants are: Asteraceae (Mikania sp., Eupatorium sp., Senecio sp.), Urticaceae, and also Verbenaceae (Lantana sp.) and Mimosaceae (Acacia spp. such as A. pellenea).
Altinote alcione ______ EC
Altinote alcione elatus ______ EC (EBE:94) subspecies in Ecuador
Altinote callianthe ______ EC
Altinote dicaeus ______ EC
Altinote dicaeus albofasciata ______ EC (EBE:94) subspecies in Ecuador
Altinote eresia ______ EC
Altinote hilaris ______ EC
Altinote hilaris desmiala ______ EC (EBE:95) subspecies in Ecuador
Altinote momina ______ EC
Altinote negra ______ EC
Altinote neleus ______ EC
Altinote neleus neleus ______ EC (EBE:94) subspecies in Ecuador
Altinote ozomene ______ EC (EBE:6) (MCA:78)
LAMPLIGHT ACTINOTE
(Range: Costa Rica to Ecuador)

Lamplight Actinote
(photo by Sherry Nelson)

Altinote stratonice ______ EC

Altinote tenebrosa ______ EC
Altinote tenebrosa tenebrosa ______ EC (EBE:94) subspecies in Ecuador

Actinote anteas ______ (D1:32) (MCA:78)
ANTEAS ACTINOTE (or Doubleday's Actinote)
(Range: Mexico to Venezuela)

Actinote melampeplos ______ EC (D1:32) (MCA:78)
BOW-WINGED ACTINOTE
(Range: Mexico to Ecuador)
Actinote latior ______ EC
Actinote rufina ______ EC
Actinote surima surima ______ ARne (MM:350) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Perezosa Anaranjada (translates to "Orange Lazy", referring to its type of flight)
Actinote thalia ______ AR EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Actinote thalia pyrrha ______ ARne (MM:351) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
AR common name: Perezosa Base Amarilla (translates to " Yellow Base Lazy", referring to its type of flight)
Actinote melanisans ______ ARba,ne (BB:289) (MM:352)
AR common names: Perezosa Base Translucida (translates to "Translucent Base Lazy", referring to its type of flight) or Perezosa Grande ("Big Lazy")
Actinote pellenea ______ AR EC
Actinote pellenea equatoria ______ EC (EBE:95)   subspecies in Ecuador
Actinoe pellenea epiphaea ______ EC (EBE:95)   subspecies in Ecuador
Actinote pellenea calymma ______ ARba,ne (BB:287) (MM:353)   subspecies in Argentina
AR common name: Perezosa (translates to "Lazy', referring to its type of flight)
Actinote mamita elena ______ ARba,ne (BB:291) (MM:354) (subspecies in Argentina)
AR common name: Perezosa de Elena (translates to "Elena's Lazy", referring to its type of flight)

Genus ABANANOTE
Abananote abana ______ EC
Abananote abana abana ______ EC (EBE:95) subspecies in Ecuador
Abananote erinome ______ EC
Abananote euryleuca ______ EC
Abananote radiata ______ EC

Subfamily DANAINAE, Tribe DANAINI: MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES

Genus ITUNA: a single species, distinctive.
Ituna ilione lamira ______ (DA:79)
(Range: Central America to northern Argentina)

The sexes of Ituna ilione are similar. The semi-transparent wings are similar to ITHOMIIDS, but this species has a much greater size. This butterfly is often seen floating effortlessly for long distances, at a uniform height above the ground, until a shrub with flowers distracts it from its reverie. Then, it becomes immediately ensconced, oblivious to all else, as it spends long minutes refreshing itself.

Genus LYCOREA: Remarkable heliconid mimics. They resemble Heliconius ethilla, but can be distinguished by their larger size in both sexes, and in the male, the presence of a tuft of extrusible "hair-pencils" at the tip of the abdomen.
Lycorea ilione ______ AR EC (DV1:33)
Lycorea ilione ilione ______ ARne (MM:415) subspecies in northeast Argentina
CLEARWING MIMIC-QUEEN
AR common name: Reina Cristalina ("Crystalline Queen")
(Range: Mexico to northern Argentina)
Lycorea halia (formerly cleobaea) (ph) ______ AR BR EC (DV1:33) (F:176) (K:155) (PE:text) (S:187)
Lycorea halia discreta ______ ARne (DA:text) (MM:414) subspecies in northeast Argentina
Lycorea halia pales ______ BRmg subspecies in Mato Grosso, Brazil
TIGER MIMIC-QUEEN (or Large Tiger)
AR common name: Halia de Noreste (referring to the scientific name, and the geographical location in Argentina, as there is another subspecies in the northwestern part of the country)
(Range: Mexico to Argentina)

Lycorea halia is larger than true heliconids. It occurs in wood and scrub habitats.

Tiger Mimic-Queen
(photo by Marie Gardner)
Lycorea pasinuntia ______ EC

Genus DANAUS: ROYALTY

Danaus plexippus (*) (ph) ______ AR CH EC (C:37) (DV1:33) (F:143) (K:227) (PE:3,4,27) (S:184) (described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Danaus plexippus nigrippus ______ EC (EBE:119,120)   subspecies in Ecuador
Danaus plexippus erippus ______ ARba,ne CH (BB:325) (MM:416)   subspecies in Argentina and Chile
Danaus plexippus megalippe ______ (DA:80)
MONARCH
AR common name: Monarca (another AR common name is: Oruga de las Asclepias)
CH common name: Monarcha
(Range: a truly cosmopolitan species, occurring in North and South America, Australia, and the East Indies)

Danaus plexippus is a very strong flier with strong migratory tendencies in temperate regions, but not in the tropics or elsewhere in South America, such as Chile, where it is usually a solitary flier and does not migrate.

Monarch
(photo by Howard Eskin)

Danaus eresimus (ph) ______ AR EC (C:283) (DV1:33) (F:142) (K:229) (PE:27)
Danaus eresimus plexaure ______ ARba,ne (BB:327) (MM:417) subspecies in Argentina
SOLDIER
AR common name: Emperatriz ("Empress") (another name is Tropical Queen)
(Range: southern US to northern Argentina, also in the Antilles)

Danaus eresimus plexaure can be confused with Danaus gilippus.
Danaus gilippus (ph) ______ AR EC (EBE:120)
Danaus gilippus thersippus ______ (EBE:120) subspecies in the Galapagos Islands
Danaus gilippus gilippus ______ ARba,ne (BB:323) (MM:418) (PE:27) subspecies in Argentina
QUEEN
AR common name: Reina ("Queen")
(Range: southern US to northern Argentina)

Two photos of Queens
(photos by Howard Eskin)

Subfamily SATYRINAE (includes: MORPHINI, BRASSOLINI, METANITINI, SATYRINI)

Totally SATYRINAE contains around 2,400 of the 6,000 or so Brushfoot (NYMPHALIDAE) species .
In Ecuador, there are 410 species in SATYRINAE, and about 70 of them are endemic to the country.
Most are midsize or small butterflies (except MORPHO and CALIGO) with cryptic coloration (brown, black, etc.)
Camouflage is their most important method of defense as they do not extract toxic chemicals from their host plants, which include:
the monocots, such as Poaceae (grasses and bamboos) and Cyperaceae.
Other host plants include:
Arecaeae (palms), Heliconiaceae and Musaceae (bananas), Marantaceae and Selaginellaceae (club mosses).

Host plants for MORPHO also include dicots, such as Inga spp. in Mimosaceae, and others.

Most SATYRINAE butterflies feed mainly on decaying fruits and other organic matter.
Many fly close to the ground, in the forest, and due to their camouflage, the sit to "disappear" on leaf litter when disturbed.

Subfamily SATRYINAE, Tribe MORPHINI

Genus ANTIRRHEA: about 20 species
Antirrhea philaretes (or miltiades) ______ (DA:154,155) (DV1:37) (F:118) (MCA:131)
Antirrhea philaretes lindigii ______ (subspecies from Guatemala, on the Caribbean slope, to the Amazon basin)
NORTHERN ANTIRRHEA (another name is White-signed Morphet)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Antirrhea philaretes often perches, feeding on rotting fruit and fungi.
Antirrhea adoptiva ______ EC
Antirrhea geryon ______ EC
Antirrhea hela ______ EC
Antirrhea phasiana ______ EC
Antirrhea philoctetes ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Antirrhea pterocopha ______ EC
Antirrhea taygetina ______ EC
Antirrhea undulata ______ EC

Genus MORPHO: in total, about 80 showy Central and South American species that always drawn much attention, as the large, obvious males are a very bright metallic blue.
These butterflies are truly spectacular. Their blue-violet irridescence, tones and intensities are produced by light diffraction (more than pigments) due to the structure of the scales.

In Ecuador, there are close to 20 species of MORPHO butterflies, with most in tropical areas.
They feed on decaying fruit and other organic matter.
Host plants are Mimosaceae (Inga spp.), Fabaceae (Macharium spp., Pterocarpus spp., Lonchocarpus spp. and others), Rhamnaceae (Scuti spp.), Bignoniaceae, and others.

Morpho helenor (*) (ph) ______ EC (DV1:38) (MCA:131)
Morpho helenor peleides ______ (subspecies in Panama & Colombia)
Morpho helenor bristowi ______ EC (EBE:101,106,181) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Morpho helenor violacea ______ BRse
COMMON (or BLUE) MORPHO (other names are the Helenor Morpho and the Emperor)
(Range: Mexico to southern Brazil)

The male of Morpho helenor has more blue on the upperside than the female. The species is attracted to fermenting fruit.

What has been Morpho peleides has been merged into Morpho helenor, as a subspecies.

Above: A Common, or Blue Morpho photographed during a FONT tour
in Minas Gerais, Brazil in May 2011 (upper photo by Pat Yoder)
Below: Showing the underside, another, Morpho helenor bristowi,
photographed during a FONT tour in southern Ecuador in April 2014
(lower photo by Marie Gardner)

Morpho cypris ______ EC
CYPRIS MORPHO
(Range: Nicaragua to Ecuador, and Trinidad & Tobago)

The sexes of Morpho cypris are completely different.
The male (most often seen) is a brilliant metallic blue, with a WHITE BAND across the wings, and a series of white spots around the wing.
The larger female, that rarely ventures from the rainforest canopy, is above a rich orange-yellow with a brown margin.
The undersides of both sexes are brown and white.
Morpho deidamia _____ BRmg EC (DA:152,153)
Morpho deidamia granadensis ______ (DA:150,151) (DV1:38) (F:183) subspecies in Panama and Colombia
Morpho deidamia diomedes ______ EC (EBE:108) subspecies in Ecuador
DEIDAMIA MORPHO (or Scarce Morpho)
(Range: Nicaragua to South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela and the Guianas)

The female of the Morpho deidamia is larger than the male, with a narrow blue band and broad brown margins on the upper wings.

Morpho deidamia grandensis is distinguished from other morpho butterflies by having most of its upper wings a light metallic blue with a dark margin (in both sexes).

What has been Morpho granadensis has been merged into Morpho deidamia, as a subspecies.

Morpho theseus ______ EC (DV1:39) (MCA:131)
Morpho theseus triangulifera ______ EC (EBE:109) (subspecies in Ecuador)
STUB-TAILED MORPHO (or Short-tailed Morpho)
(or Short-tailed Morpho)
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

Morpho theseus is pale to brown, but not bright blue or white.

Morpho achilles (ph) ______ AR BRmg EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Morpho achilles phokylides ______ EC (EBE:107) subspecies in Ecuador
Morpho achilles achilles ______ ARne BRse (MM:355) subspecies in northeast Argentina and southeast Brazil
ACHILLES MORPHO (other names are the BLUE-BANDED MORPHO, or BANDED BLUE MORPHO)
AR common name: Pora (regarding the name: "Pora", it is a Guarani word meaning "beautiful".)
BR common name: Capitao do Mato
(Range: throughout South America)

Two photos of Morpho achilles taken during FONT tours in Brazil

Morpho aega ______
Morpho aega aega ______ ARne (*) BRse (MM:356) subspecies in northeast Argentina
AEGA MORPHO
AR common name: Blue Silk
BR names: Seda Azul, Corcovado, Telao de Seda, Azulao
(Range: Brazil, Argentina, & Paraguay)

Morpho amphitryon ______ EC

Morpho epistrophus ______
Morpho epistrophus argentina ______ ARba,ne (BB:293) (MM:357) subspecies in Argentina
EPISTROPHUS WHITE MORPHO
AR common name: Panambi Moroti (regarding the name: "Moroti" is a Guarani word meaning "white"; "Panambi" means "butterfly")
(Range: in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay)

Morpho epistrophus has an undulating flight. Butterflies are in the Buenos Aires area from December to March. They occur in gallery forest and rain forest.
Morpho sulkowskyi (*) ______ EC
Morpho sulkowskyi sulkowskyi ______ EC (EBE:109) subspecies in Ecuador
Morpho sulkowskyi sirene ______ (DA:146)
Morpho sulkowskyi erus ______ (DA:146)
SULKOWSKY'S MORPHO
(Range: Colombia to Peru)

Morpho sulkowskyi, a relatively small MORPHO, is a high altitude species, at 6,000 to 8,0000 feet above sea level.
Morpho rhetenor ______ EC
Morpho rhetenor rhetenor ______ (DA:147,148)
RHETENOR BLUE MORPHO
(Range: the Guianas, Colombia, Amazonian Brazil, Ecuador, Peru)

THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY REGARDING BUTTERFLIES IN AMAZONIAN SOUTH AMERICA
was written by Henry Walter Bates in 1863 in "The Naturalist on the River Amazons"
and mentions the Morpho butterflies Morpho rhetenor (above) and Morpho menelaus and
Morpho uraneis (both below).

"The neighborhood of Para (in Brazil) is rich in butterflies. It will convey some idea of the diversity when I mention that about 700 species of that tribe can be found within an hour's walk of the town (note: maybe an exaggeration.), whilst the total number found in the British Isles does not exceed 66, and the whole of Europe supports only 321.

The splendid blue Morphos, some of which measure seven inches in expanse, are generally confined to the shady alleys of the forest. They sometimes come forth into the broad sunlight. When we first went to look at our new residence in Nazareth, a Morpho menelaus, one of the most beautiful kinds, was seen flapping its huge wings like a bird on the verandah.

That species, however, although much admired, looks dull in colour by the side of its congener, the Morpho rhetenor, whose wings on the upper face, are of quite a dazzling lustre.
Rhetenor usually prefers the broad sunny roads in the forest, and is an almost unattainable prize, on account of its lofty flight; for it very rarely descends nearer the ground than about 20 feet. When it comes sailing along, it occasionally flaps its wings, and then the blue surface flashes in the sunlight, so that it is visible a quarter of a mile off.

There is another species of this genus, of a satiny-white hue, the Morpho uraneis; this is equally difficult to obtain; the male only has the satiny lustre, the female being of a pale-lavender colour."
Morpho menelaus ______ BRmg EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Morpho menelaus occidentalis ______ EC (EBE:108) subspecies in Ecuador
MENELAUS MORPHO
(Range: in northern and central South America)
Morpho amathonte _____ EC (DV1:39)
Morpho amathonte ecuadorensis ______ EC (EBE:108) (subspecies in Ecuador)
(Range: Costa Rica to Venezuela & Ecuador)

Morpho amathonte is said by some to be a subspecies of Morpho menelaus.
Morpho didius ______ (DA:149)
GIANT BLUE MORPHO
(Range: in Peru)

Morpho didius is said by some to be a subspecies of Morpho menelaus.
Morpho uraneis ______
URANEIS MORPHO
(Range: Amazonian Brazil and Peru)

Morpho uraneis is said to be a subspecies of another species, Morpho eugenia.
Morpho cisseis ______ BRmg EC
CISSEIS MORPHO
Morpho eugenia ______ EC
Morpho godartii ______ EC
Morpho granadensis ______ EC
Morpho granadensis lycanor ______ EC (EBE:109) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Morpho hecuba ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1771)
Morpho marcus ______ EC
Morpho niepelti ______ EC
Morpho telemachus ______ BRmg EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
TELEMACHUS MORPHO

Genus CAEROIS: 3 species from Costa Rica to Colombia & Bolivia)

Caerois chorinaeus ______ EC

Caerois gerdrudtus ______ EC (DA:156) (DV1:40) (F:127)
Caerois gerdrudtus vespertilio ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
FALSE ANTIRRHEA
(Range: Costa Rica to western Ecuador)

Caerois gerdrudtus is not common. It lives in the rainforest and breeds in a palm. The other 2 species in the genus are similar in shape, but are a darker brown with orange bands on both wings.

Subfamily SATYRINAE, Tribe BRASSOLINI: "The OWLS"

Genus BIA

Bia actorion rebeli ______ EC (subspecies described in 1953)

Genus DYNASTOR: 3 magnificent species

Dynastor darius ______ EC
Dynastor darius stygianus ______ (DV1:41) (MCA:132) (subspecies Mexico to Ecuador)
Dynastor darius ictericus ______ ARne (MM:361) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
DARING OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is the Bromeliad Owl Butterfly)
AR common name: Dario
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)
Dynastor macrosiris ______ EC
Dynastor napoleon ______ (DA:139) in Brazil, in the Rio de Janeiro province

Dynastor napoleon is a very localized species, and certainly one of the most magnificent of the BRASSOLIDS. Regarded as very rare. In the early 20th Century, it was thought to be nearly extinct.

Genus DASYOPHTHALMA: 3 species in central and southern Brazil
Dasyophthalma creusa ______ (DA:140) in central and southern Brazil, maybe adjacent Paraguay

Dasyophthalma creusa can only be encountered in the first few months of the year, in the deepest forest. It is one of the most commonly taken butterflies on baits. Moth collectors have reported it coming to bait even at night.

Genus OPOPTERA
Opoptera aorsa ______ EC

Genus SELENOPHANES
Selenophanes josephus ______ EC
Selenophanes josephus excultus ______ subspecies in Panama and Colombia
JOSEPHUS OWL BUTTERFLY
Selenophanes cassiope ______ EC
Selenophanes supremus ______ EC

Genus NAROPE

Narope cyllastros ______ (DV1:41)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)
Narope syllabus ______ EC
Narope syllabus syllabus ______ (subspecies in Peru)
Narope syllabus stygius ______ (subspecies in Amazonas, Brazil)
Narope anartes ______ EC
(Range: Colombia to Bolivia)
Narope nesope ______ EC
(Range: Ecuador to Bolivia)
Narope albopunctum ______
(Range: Peru)
Narope cauca ______ (species described in 2002)
(Range: Colombia)
Narope cyllabarus ______ BR EC
(Range: Colombia, the Guianas and Amazonian Brazil to Bolivia)
Narope cyllene ______ ARne (MM:358)
AR common name: Cilenia (regarding the name: Cilenos were the inhabitants of Mount Cilene.)
(Range: Brazil & northern Argentina)
Narope cyllarus ______ BRse
(Range: southeastern Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro)
Narope denticulatus ______ BRmg
(Range: Brazil, in Mato Grosso)
Narope guihermei ______ BR (species described in 1989)
(Range: southeastern Brazil, in Santa Catarina)
Narope marmorata ______
(Range: Bolivia)
Narope obidos ______ BR (species described in 2002)
(Range: Brazil, in Para)
Narope panniculus ______ EC
Narope panniculus panniculus ______ (subspecies in Paraguay)
Narope panniculus piccatus ______ (subspecies in Bolivia)
Narope ybyra ______ (species described in 2002)
(Range: Bolivia)

Genus OPSIPHANES: 13 species, all with stout bodies, and thick scaled wings. Occur from Mexico to Paraguay (& in Trinidad).
The male wingshape reminiscent of the Afrotropical CHARAXES.
The behavior is much like that of other BRASSOLIDS.
Most of the species in this genus strongly resemble each other. Most of these species are not common.

Opsiphanes tamarindi ______ EC
Opsiphanes tamarindi tamarindi ______ (DV1:41) (MCA:133) (subspecies from Mexico to Colombia)
Opsiphanes tamarindi corrosus ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
NARROW-BANDED OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is Heliconia Owlet)
(another name is Heliconia Owlet)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Opsiphanes invirae ______ EC (DV1:42) (MCA:133)
Opsiphanes invirae sticheli ______ (subspecies from Panama to western Venezuela)
Opsiphanes invirae amplificatus ______ ARba,ne (BB:295) (MM:359) (subspecies in Argentina)
LOWLAND OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is Lowland Owlet)
AR common name: Fantasma (translates to "Ghost")
(Range: Honduras to Argentina; the species has been said to be extending its range further south)

Opsiphanes cassiae ______ EC (MCA:133) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Opsiphanes cassiae castaneus ______ (subspecies from Honduras to Colombia)
CASSIA'S OWL BUTTERFLY

Opsiphanes cassina ______ EC (DV1:42) (MCA:133)
Opsiphanes cassina numatius ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
Opsiphanes cassina barkeri ______ EC (EBE:105) (subspecies in Ecuador)
SPLIT-BANDED OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is Split-banded Owlet)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Opsiphanes quiteria ______ EC (DV1:42) (MCA:133)
Opsiphanes quiteria badius ______ (subspecies from Panama to Venezuela)
Opsiphanes quiteria angostura ______ EC (EBE:105) (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
SCALLOPED OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is Scalloped Owlet)
(Range: Guatemala to the Amazon Basin)
Opisphanes sallei ______ EC
Opisphanes sallei sallei ______ (DA:141)
(Range: Venezuela and Colombia to southern Bolivia)

In Opisphanes sallei, the sexes are similar.
Opisphanes bogotanus ______ EC
Opisphanes bogotanus blandinii ______ EC (EBE:105) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Opisphanes mutatus ______ EC
Opisphanes zelotes ______ EC
Opisphanes zelotes zelotes ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)

Genus CATOBLEPIA

Catoblepia xanthicles ______ EC (DV1:44)
Catoblepia xanthicles occidentalis ______ EC (EBE:105) (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
XANTHICLES OWL BUTTERFLY
(Range: Costa Rica to Bolivia)

Catoblepia orgetorix ______ EC (C:355) (DV1:44)
Catoblepia orgetorix magnalis ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
ORANGE-RIMMED OWL BUTTERFLY (also called Orgetorix Owl Butterfly)
(Range: Nicaragua to Ecuador)
Catoblepia xanthus ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Catoblepia generosa ______ EC (either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Catoblepia berecynthia ______ BRmg EC
BERECYNTHIA OWLET
Catoblepia soranus ______ BRmg EC
SORANUS OWLET
Catoblepia amphirhoe ______ ARne (MM:363)
AR common name: Fantasma Grande (translates to "Big Ghost")

Genus ERYPHANIS: species with "owl eyes" in Central and South America. Breeds on bamboo.

Eryphanis automedon (formerly polyxena) ______ EC (DV1:44) (S:158)
Eryphanis automedon lycomedon ______   subspecies from Guatemala to Colombia
Eryphanis automedon automedon ______   subspecies in the Guianas
Eryphanis automedon spintharus ______   subspecies in Colombia
Eryphanis automedon novicia ______ EC   subspecies in Ecuador
Eryphanis automedon tristis ______   subspecies in Peru
Eryphanis automedon cheiremon ______   subspecies in Bolivia
Eryphanis automedon amphimedon ______   subspecies in Brazil
AUTOMEDON GIANT OWL BUTTERFLY (another name has been the Purple Mort Bleu)
(Range: Guatemala to the Amazon Basin)

Eryphanis polyxena frequents forest clearings in the late afternoon and at dusk.

Eryphanis aesacus ______ EC (DV1:45) (F:150) (MCA:132)
DOUBLE-SPOTTED OWL BUTTERFLY
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)
Eryphanis bubocula ______
BUBOCULA OWL BUTTERFLY
(Range: Costa Rica to the Amazon Basin)
Eryphanis lycomedon ______
SPLIT-SPOTTED OWL BUTTERFLY
(Range: Guatemala to southern Brazil, including Ecuador & Bolivia)
Eryphanis gerhardi ______ EC
Eryphanis greeneyi ______ EC (species described in 2008)
Eryhanis zolzivora ______ EC (EBE:101)
Eryphanis reevesii ______ ARne (MM:366)
AR common name: Sombra Azul (translates to "Blue Shadow", referring to its color and quick flight)
BR common name: Olho de boi

Genus BRASSOLIS
Brassolis isthmia ______ EC
Brassolis isthmia isthmia ______ (MCA:133) (subspecies from Guatemala to Colombia, in the Caribbean slope)
SMALL-SPOTTED OWL-BUTTERFLY
Brassolis granadensis ______
Brassolis granadensis granadensis ______ (subspecies from northwestern Costa Rica to western Ecuador, on the Pacific slope)
COLOMBIAN OWL-BUTTERFLY
Brassolis haenschi ______ EC
Brassolis sophorae ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)

Genus CALIGO: 20 to 30 species of among the largest and most striking butterflies in the world. The species in this genus can usually be distinguished from each other by the pattern and coloration of the upper wings

Some CALIGO butterflies have a wingspan as large as 20 centimeters (nearly 8 inches). Such large species include Caligo idomeneus and Caligo atreus.

Butterflies in the CALIGO genus avoid bright sunlight. They fly in the late afternoon and at dusk, and they are attracted to fermenting fruit and other organic matter.
Their large ocelli imitate owl or mammal eyes to prevent predation.
Larvae are large and semi-gregarious, with "horns" and a pro-thoracic gland that expels repulsive substances for protection.
There is a photo of a CALIGO caterpillar in the book "Ecuador's Butterfly Ecology" (EBE:215co).

For CALIGO and related genera (including OPSIPHANES, CATOBLEPIA, ERYPHANIS, all above), host plants are monocots such as:
Calathea spp. in Arecaceae, Hedychium spp. in Zyngiberaceae, Heliconia spp. in Heliconiaceae, Musa sapientum in Musaceae (bananas), and Canna indica in Poaceae (sugar cane).

Caligo teucer ______ EC (S:157) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
TEUCER GIANT OWL BUTTERFLY (another name has been the Cocoa Mort Bleu)
(Range: Colombia & Venezuela to Bolivia and Paraguay)

Caligo eurilochus ______ BRmg EC (DV1:45)
Caligo eurilochus morpheus ______ ECnw (EBE:102,180) subspecies in Colombia and Ecuador
FOREST GIANT OWL BUTTERFLY
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

Various subspecies of Caligo eurilochus are recognized, and others have been proposed.

Caligo eurilochus morpheus was said to be Caligo brasiliensis morpheus.

Caligo brasiliensis (ph) ______ (MCA:132)
Caligo brasiliensis brasiliensis ______ ARne (DA:143) (MM:367) (subspecies in Brazil & northeast Argentina)
Caligo brasiliensis galba ______ (subspecies in Colombia)
Caligo brasiliensis caesius ______ (subspecies in Venezuela)
Caligo brasiliensis minor ______ (subspecies in Trinidad)
DARK OWL BUTTERFLY (other names are Brazilian Owl Butterfly, Almond-eyed Owl Butterfly, Sulanus Owl Butterfly, and Magnificent Owl)
AR common name: Lechucita de Brasil (translates to "Brazilian Little Owl")
BR common name: Borboleta Coruja
(Range: Guatemala to northern Argentina)

Caligo brasiliensis. the Brazilian Owl Butterfly, that also has other common names
Caligo oedipus ______ (MCA:132)
Caligo oedipus oedipus ______ (subspecies in Panama & Colombia)
FRUHSTORFER'S OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is the Boomerang Owl Butterfly)
Caligo telamonius (formerly memnon) (ph) ______ EC (DV1:46) (F:128) (MCA:132)
Caligo telamonius menus ______ (subspecies from Costa Rica to Colombia)
Caligo telamonius memnon ______ (EBE:104) (subspecies in Ecuador)
PALE GIANT OWL BUTTERFLY (other names are the Cream Owl Butterfly, or the Yellow-fronted Owl Butterfly)
(Range: Mexico to the Amazon Basin)

With a wingspan of 13cm, Caligo memnon is among the largest butterflies in the world. It is crepusular. It lives in agricultural areas, where it breeds on Heliconia species and the related banana.

A Pale Giant Owl Butterfly photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Caligo illioneus ______ EC (DA:text) (DV1:46)
Caligo illioneus oberon ______ EC (EBE:103) (subspecies in Ecuador)
Caligo illioneus pampeiro ______ ARne (MM:368) (subspecies in northeast Argentina)
DUSKY OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is the Illoneus Giant Owl Butterfly)
AR common name: Lechucita (translates to "Little Owl")
BR common name: Corujao
(translates to "Little Owl")
BR common name: Corujao
(Range: Costa Rica to Brazil & northern Argentina)

Caligo atreus (ph) _____ EC (DV1:46)
Caligo atreus agesilaus ______ EC (EBE:104) (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)
BANDED OWL BUTTERFLY (another name is the Yellow-edged Giant Owl)
(Range: Mexico to Peru)

A Banded Owl Butterfly, or Yellow-edged Giant Owl
Caligo bellerophon ______ ECnw (EBE:8,103) (species either endemic or nearly so to Ecuador)
Caligo euphorbus ______ EC
Caligo idomeneus ______ EC (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
Caligo oberthurii ______ EC
Caligo oileus ______ EC
Caligo placidianus ______ EC
Caligo prometheus ______ EC
Caligo superbus ______ EC
Caligo zeuxippus ______ EC
Caligo zeuxippus zeuxippus ______ EC (subspecies in northwest Ecuador)

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