Upper Side. Antennæ, thorax, and abdomen black, the latter spotted on its sides. Anterior wings, next the body dark orange, but at the tips about two-fifths are pellucid. Near the middle, towards the anterior edge, is a small black spot, and a streak of the same colour. Posterior wings dark orange, black at the base, with a narrow border of orange and black running along the external edges, and a group, consisting of fifteen different shaped black spots, occupying the middle.
Under Side. Palpi hairy and light coloured. Legs and breast black. Abdomen light brown. Anterior wings very glossy, the marks on the upper side being so faint as to be scarcely discernible. Posterior wings cream-coloured, with the same number of black spots, but stronger and more distinct than those on the upper side. The external edges bordered with orange, within which is a small narrow black border, with light cream spots. Margins of the wings entire.
ACRÆA GEA ♂.
Plate [XXVIII]. fig. 3, 4.
Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: Heliconiidæ.
Genus. Acræa, Fabr. Latr. God. Papilio (Heliconii), Fabr. Olim.
Acræa Gea. Alis oblongis integerrimis, anticis utrinque fuscis, fasciis duabus fulvis aut albidis, unâ versus apicem, alterâ connexâ disco posticarum, his subtùs rufescentibus, basi nigro-punctatis, postea striatis. (Expans. Alar. 3 unc.)
Syn. Papilio (Hel.) Gea, Fabr. Spec. Ins. 2. p. 32. No. 136. ♂. Enc. Méth. ix. p. 238. (Acræa G.)
Papilio (H.) Jodutta, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 175. No. 554. ♀.
Papilio (Hel.) Hirce, Drury, App. vol. 3.