Harmonia Tiger

Description:

The Harmonia Tiger-wing or Harmonia Tiger (Tithorea harmonia) is a species of butterflies belonging to the Nymphalidae family. Tithorea harmonia has a wingspan reaching about 70 millimetres (2.8 in). This toxic "tiger" butterfly has the usual pattern of black wings with bright orange bands. The forewings have a black tip. Also the antennae are orange. Larvae feed on Prestonia species. Tithorea are large butterflies. They often fly in sunny glades where they can easily be confused with Heliconius species such as ismenius, numata or hecale. The easiest way to distinguish Tithorea from their mimics is to examine the antennae and legs. Tithorea antennae are very gradually tapered, cream in colour, and drooping. In Pieridae they are parallel along the stalk, with a strongly clubbed tip, while in Papilionidae the tip is clubbed and recurved. Ithomiines, Heliconiines and Nymphalines have only 2 pairs of functioning legs. In the Ithomiines these are long, giving the impression of a butterfly on stilts. Papilionidae and Pieridae have 3 pairs of functioning legs. Tithorea harmonia is one of the commonest and most widespread of the toxic "tiger" species, being found from Mexico to the southern Amazon. There are 26 named subspecies.

Habitat:

This widespread species can be found from Mexico to South America. Found in sub-tropical deciduous forest as well as in evergreen rainforest habitats. It occurs at altitudes between 0-1300m. This one was spotted in a tropical butterfly garden in S.E. France, on the French/Spanish border.

Notes:

Photo courtesy of Claire Chamberlin