HELICONIA IRENE.
Plate [XXXVIII]. fig. 1.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Heliconiidæ, Swains.
Genus. Heliconia, Latr. God. Papilio (Helicon.), Fabr.
Heliconia Irene. Alis oblongis, anticis nigris basi ferrugineo radiatis, à medio ad extimum flavo-maculatis, posticis fulvis limbo exteriori maculisque ante apicem nigris, singulis infrâ punctis marginalibus albis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Irene, Drury, App. vol. 3. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 165. No. 510. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 223. No. 60.
Habitat: "Jamaica, Mr. Shakespear, 1779" (Drury's MSS.).
Upper Side. Antennæ black at the base, but yellow at the tips. Thorax black. Abdomen dark brown. Anterior wings black, with twelve different shaped spots, occupying half the wings next the tips; these spots are principally yellow, (one next the body being orange), and differ very much in form and size; next the body are two narrow faint reddish longitudinal streaks. Posterior wings dusky orange, the edges being bordered with black from the middle of the anterior edges to the abdominal corners; a square black spot is placed near the upper corners, and two very small ones by the side of it.
Under Side. Palpi black. Breast streaked with white. Abdomen yellow. Wings less brilliant; but having much the same markings as on the upper side; the black border on the posterior ones having a row of white spots thereon, and another row is observable on the edges of the anterior. Posterior wings dentated.