Butterfly.—Small butterflies, closely resembling the species of the genus Phyciodes in the neuration of the wings, and only differing from them in the outline of the outer margin of the primaries, which are more or less excavated about the middle. In the style of the markings they differ somewhat widely from the butterflies of the genus Phyciodes, notably in the absence of the crescents on the margins of the wings. The wings on the upper side are generally some shade of deep brown or black, marked with spots and bands of white or fulvous, the median band on the hind wings being generally more or less conspicuous. In the pattern of their markings they illustrate a transition from the genus Phyciodes to the genus Synchloë.
[a]Fig. 93.]—Neuration of the genus Eresia, slightly enlarged.
Egg.—Hitherto undescribed.
Caterpillar.—Cylindrical, with seven rows of spines, one dorsal, and three lateral on each side; the spines are short, blunt, and armed with short bristles. The head is subcordate, with the vertices rounded. It moults four times.
Chrysalis.—Cylindrical, abdomen stout, head-case short, beveled, nearly square at top, the vertices pyramidal. There are three rows of small tubercles on the dorsal side of the abdomen.
The caterpillars so far as known feed upon various Compositæ, as Diclippa and Actinomeris.
The genus, which is somewhat doubtfully separable from Phyciodes, and probably possesses only subgeneric value, is well represented in Central and South America. But three species are found in the faunal region of which this book treats.
(1) Eresia frisia, Poey, Plate XVII, Fig. 42, ♂ (Frisia).