Pierella helvina
| Red-washed Satyr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pierella helvina from Colombia. Mounted specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Subfamily: | Satyrinae |
| Tribe: | Haeterini |
| Genus: | Pierella |
| Species: | P. helvina |
| Binomial name | |
| Pierella helvina (Hewitson, 1859) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The Red-washed Satyr (Pierella helvina) is a species of nymphalid butterfly, belonging to Satyrinae subfamily.
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. Beyonds the third ot these bands is a large red patch. Beyond this patch the wings are darker and have a white spot and a pupillated black ocellus. 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
- Pierella helvina helvina (Colombia)
- Pierella helvina ocreata Godman & Salvin, 1868 (Panama, Ecuador)
- Pierella helvina incanescens Godman & Salvin, 1877 (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)
- Pierella helvina hymettia Staudinger, 1886 (Colombia)
- Pierella helvina pacifica Niepelt, 1924 (Colombia)