Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

Members of this genus typically have dark brown wings with contrasting pale or orange spots, and many species show a prominent silvery or white patch on the underside of the hindwing—a key identification feature. Their bodies are stout, and like all skippers, they have hooked antennae and a fast, darting flight, though they often pause to perch with wings partially open. Epargyreus species are found across North, Central, and South America, inhabiting open woodlands, forest edges, fields, and gardens. Adults frequently visit flowers for nectar and may also take moisture from damp soil.

Diet

Adults visit small flowering plants for nectar.
The species appears to favor situations where flowering plants are abundant, making sunny woodland edges particularly useful for locating adults.

Range

The Pale Emesis is primarily a Mexican and Central American species, ranging from eastern and western Mexico southward to Guatemala.
It occurs in Guerrero and is within its natural range in the Zihua area.
In Mexico, it has a relatively broad distribution, with populations known from both Pacific-slope and eastern regions.

Habitat

It occurs in tropical dry forest, seasonally dry woodland, scrub, forest edges, and secondary vegetation.
Adults can be found in sunny openings and along woodland margins where flowering plants are plentiful.
Around Zihua, it would be most likely in dry tropical forest and scrub, particularly along sunny edges and openings with flowering composites.

Description

The Pale Emesis is a relatively small metalmark with a wingspan of approximately 30–40 mm.
Its upper surface is predominantly reddish brown to warm orange-brown, with relatively subdued darker markings.
The wings are more rounded and less dramatically patterned than those of several other Emesis species found in western Mexico.
The underside is generally paler brown to yellowish brown, with fine transverse markings that become more noticeable when the butterfly is resting with its wings closed.