Pierella helvina

Pierella helvina, the red-washed satyr, is a species of nymphalid butterfly, belonging to subfamily Satyrinae.

Red-washed satyr
Mounted specimen from Colombia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Genus:
Pierella
Species:
P. helvina
Binomial name
Pierella helvina
(Hewitson, 1859)
Synonyms
  • Haetera helvina, Hewitson, 1859
  • Pierella helvetia, D'Abrera, 1988
  • Pierella ocreata Godman & Salvin, 1868
  • Pierella incanescens Godman & Salvin, 1877
  • Pierella incanescens costarica Niepelt, 1927
  • Pierella incanescens werneri Hering & Hopp, 1925
  • Pierello ocreata johnsoni Talbot, 1932

Description

The basic colour of the wings is dark brown. The anterior wings have three black bands crossing the cell, the inner one prolonged to the inner margin. The end of the cell is also black. Two parallel black bands cross the wings from the inner margin to the costa. between these bands and the outer margin are a series of spots, the nearest the costa black, the next black and the two following white. The posterior wings have three black cross bands. Beyond the third of these bands is a large red patch. Beyond this patch the wings are darker and have a white spot and a black ocellus with the appearance of a pupil. The outer margin is deeply indented. The anal patch is dark brown.

Larva feed on Heliconia and Calathea species.

Distribution

This species can be found in Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Subspecies

References


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