Tithorea tarricina

Tithorea tarricina, the tarricina longwing, variable presonian,^[1] or cream-spotted tigerwing, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae.

Tithorea tarricina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Tithorea
Species:	T. tarricina
Binomial name
Tithorea tarricina Hewitson, 1858
Synonyms
Tithorea duenna Bates, 1864 Tithorea anachoreta Thieme, 1903 Tithorea pinthias Godman & Salvin, 1878 Tithorea monosticta Godman & Salvin, 1897 Hirsutis pinthias f. macasica Niepelt, 1915 Tithorea pinthias melini Bryk, 1953

Description

The golden chrysalis of Tithorea tarricina

Tithorea tarricina has a wingspan reaching about 75–80 millimetres (3.0–3.1 in), with a forewing of about 40 millimetres (1.6 in). The pattern of the wings is quite variable. Usually the dorsal sides of the forewings are black with white spots, while the hindwings are orange with black margins. The underside are similar, with many small white spots along the black margins. The antennae are black. The chrysalides are completely golden.

Distribution

This rare species is present in Mexico and in Central and South America.

Habitat

Tithorea tarricina can be found at the edges of forested areas in lowlands and mountain slopes, at an elevation up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level. The host plants are in the genus Prestonia (mainly P. longifolia and P. portabellensis – family Apocynaceae).

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognised:^[2]

• T. t. bonita Haensch, 1903 (Ecuador, Peru)
• T. t. duenna Bates, 1864 (Mexico to Guatemala)
• T. t. franciscoi Brown, 1977 (Venezuela)
• T. t. hecalesina C. & R. Felder, 1865 (Colombia)
• T. t. lecromi Vitale & Rodriguez, 2004 (Colombia)
• T. t. parola Godman & Salvin, 1898 (Colombia)
• T. t. pinthias Godman & Salvin, 1878 (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua)
• T. t. tagarma Hewitson, 1874 (Bolivia, Peru)
• T. t. tarricina Hewitson, 1858 (Colombia)