Monteverde Butterflies: Tithorea harmonia

Tithorea harmonia Godman & Salvin


Male dorsal	Male ventral

Female dorsal	Female ventral

Identification:
Antennae orange, forewing short with pointed tip, white checks on wing edges, spots on ventral hindwing margin paired, black bar on lower edge of forewing discal cell, black bar above hindwing discal cell, discal bar reduced to a spot or absent.

Wingspan: 72 mm

Forewing: 39 mm

Local distribution: Enters our area only at the lowest ranges on the dry Pacific slope. Typical of lowland dry forest. Occasionally passes through Monteverde as a migrant. Rarely seen in the Atlantic lowlands (San Carlos).

Similar species: Mechanitis polymnia, Hypothyris lycaste, Thyridia psidii

Species range: Mexico to South America

Abundance: Uncommon.

Early stages: solitary.

Host plants: Prestonia portobellensis (Apocynaceae)

Comments: The amount of black on the hindwing disc is highly variable as is the shape yellow spots on the forewing. Unusual in not using Solanaceae as larval hosts. The hosts are vines with clear sap containing pyrrholyzine alkaloids instead of the usual white latex of most family members.