Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Leading Red-Ring (Pyrrhogyra neaerea)

-Pyrrhogyra neaerea ssp. hypsenor

Pyrrhogyra neaerea (Leading Red-ring) is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, specifically within the subfamily Biblidinae. The upper side of the wings is typically dark brown, marked with a broad white band running across both wings, which is broken into two sections on the forewings. On the underside, the pattern is very different: it is predominantly pale (whitish) with extensive brown borders, and often includes a thin red line running along the wing margin toward the hindwing angle. This species occurs widely in Mexico, Central America, and much of South America, inhabiting forests, edges, and well-vegetated habitats.

Diet

Caterpillars feed on vines in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae).
Larvae feed on the foliage and shelter among leaves of the host vine.
Adults feed on rotting fruit, tree sap and other fermenting plant material, rather than relying primarily on flower nectar.

Range

Pyrrhogyra neaerea has a broad Neotropical distribution extending from Mexico through Central America to the Guianas and Paraguay.
The Mexican and Central American populations are generally treated as the subspecies P. n. hypsenor.
It occurs in Guerrero and is found in the Zihua area.

Habitat

It inhabits tropical forest, tropical dry forest, woodland edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.
Adults are particularly associated with forest margins and openings where fermenting fruit and tree sap are available.
It can occur in relatively dry tropical woodland as well as more humid forest.

Description

A medium-sized brush-footed butterfly with a wingspan of approximately 50–60 mm.
The upper surface is predominantly dark brown, with a broad white band crossing both wings.
The forewing band is divided by the wing veins, while the hindwing carries a broad, continuous pale band.
A small reddish spot near the anal angle of the hindwing is characteristic.
The underside is largely white with a broad dark brown border and a reddish-orange line extending along the hindwing margin.
The outer margins of the wings are somewhat scalloped, and the forewing apex is relatively rounded compared with some closely related Pyrrhogyra.