Genus ERESIA Doubleday
Closely allied to Phyciodes, but distinguished from it by having the fore wing more or less deeply excavated on the outer margin about its middle, and the light spots on the hind wings arranged in regular bands. There are also differences in the form of the chrysalids and caterpillars. The genus is best represented in Central and South America, where there are many very beautiful species. Only three occur in our region. We have figured two of these.
(1) Eresia frisia (Poey), [Plate XXIII], Fig. 4, ♂ (Poey’s Crescent).
PL. XXIV
Our figure of the upper side will enable any one to recognize it. Below the wings are fulvous, mottled with dark brown and white, and the spots of the upper side reappear as white bands and markings. Expanse 1.4-1.5 inch.
Occurs in the extreme south of Florida about Key West, and is not uncommon in the Antilles, Mexico, and Central America.
(2) Eresia texana (Edwards), [Plate XXIV], Fig. 1, ♀ (The Texan Crescent).
Well represented in our illustration. Below the fore wings are fulvous at base, and broadly marked with dark brown beyond the middle. Hind wings at base marbled wood-brown, and dark externally like the fore wings. The light spots of upper side reappear on lower side, but not so distinctly. Expanse 1.25-1.75 inch.
Ranges through Texas into Mexico, and South America. The genus Eresia is undoubtedly one of those which originated in the warm neotropical regions and which since the glacial epoch have spread northward. Many of our genera have come to us from the South.