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Project Noah Nature School
Mechanitis lysimnia utemaia
This is one of the 4 Nymphalid mimic species of Heliconidae (the Confused Tigerwing) They were all found on the same day in the same place. No Heliconid model species were seen. The first 4 pictures are of the same individual, the last 2 pictures are of a second individual (the same day and place) of the same species. Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae: Mechanitis lysimnia utemaia.
Within the forest, flying among the trees and bushes, above the river zone. Tropical forest, dry season, Chorreadero Park, 10 km above Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico.
The 4 Nymphalid species collected on this day, all in the same place are mimics of a Heliconid model, which was not seen. The other 3 species can be viewed: Complex 2: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/165... Complex 3: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/161... Complex 4: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/165...
All 4 of the Nymphalid mimetic species of Heliconidae found on the same day in the same place are now linked....
Thank you bayucca so very much. I will fix and link these species together later today so everyone interested can see the whole mimicry complex. What great work!
Nymphalidae, Ithomiinae, Mechanitis lysimnia utemaia. Same one like this one:
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/160...
Thank you Nuwan, Argy Bee and Adarsha- now we have to sort out all the mimicry going on here.
I am already on the road, so no time to check. Please, make separate spottings as I suggested and I will come back for IDs. These Tigers are sometimes a nightmare...
That is right. Now what do we do? They all look the same to me even with the Heliconid and the Ithomiid in a book side by side. What is the 3rd species you see?
You have changed the order, so I am not sure which one you referring to: I agree 1, 3 and 4 are the same, 2 is different and 5 is different and 2 and 5 are not the same ones.
Hola bayuca. If I remember correctly, # 1, 3, and 4 are the same individual on the same leaf taken in sequence.
# 2 and 5 are both different individuals from each other and the one above, but taken in the same locality on the same day, on different leaves. None of them were more than 30 meters apart.
You have probably three different butterflies there: #1 and #2 to #4 and #5. Please make separate posts of them. I am out for a congress, but I will look on sunday at these ones for an ID.
Spotted on Nov 21, 2012
Submitted on Nov 29, 2012
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