116 ITUNA. By B. Haensch. 



the very large, yellow subapical spots of the forewing; in the latter the cell is longer, the subapical spots are 

 smaller and the ground-colour is less reddish. 



halia. L. halia Uhn. (31c). This South Brazilian species differs from all the preceding in having only 3 suba- 



pical spots on the forewing and in the yellow longitudinal spot in the disc of the hindwing. This band-like spot 

 is characteristic of many South Brazihan species of Ithomhds and Heliconines, which closely resemble L. lialia, 

 such as Hirs. fseudethra Btl., Mel. ethra Godt., Mech. nessaea Hbn., Cerat. euryanassa, Heliconius narcaeaGodt., etc., 

 referrens. almost all of which fly together with halia. — As ab. referrens ah. nov. I designate a form in which this band- 

 spot shows the normal yellow-brown ground-colour. — A further form, in which the yellow transverse band of 

 discreta. the forewing is broken up into 3 spots, as in cleohaea, I call discreta form. nov. In this the yellow spot of the 

 hindwing also mostly assumes a brownish shade. 



3. Genus: Itima Dbl. d Heiv. 



Mostlj^ large, imposing butterflies with transparent, dark-margined wings. The forms are all rather 

 closely allied. Cross vein of the hindwing almost straight and erect. ^ with 2 reversible hair-pencils at the anus, 

 as in Lycorea. Superficially the species are very similar to corresponding forms of Olyras, Thyridia, etc. They 

 are chiefly mountain species. They occur from Central America to South Brazil. The larvae according to 

 BoiSDUVAL are similar to those of Lycorea in shape and habits. 



lamirus. I. lamirus Latr. (= completa Stgr.) -(Sic). In typical specimens the basal third of the forewing is 



black-brown. But examples commonly occur which have at the base a large semitransparent triangle, which 

 often again is united beyond the median nervure with the spot between the median veins. This form I call 



fenesiraia. ab. fenestrata ab. nov. Both forms vary in the extent of the yellow-brown colour at the distal margin of the hind- 

 wing, which sometimes spreads over the whole of the disc. They occur on the eastern slopes of the Andes 

 of Colombia and Ecuador. — On the western slopes of the Andes of Ecuador occurs a local form which is 



decolorala. markedly distinct by the absence of the yellow-brown colour, and which I call decolorata form. nov. The dark 

 band-marking is otherwise similar to that of fetiestrata, but weaker, especially the dark subapical band of the 

 forewing is wanting. On the other hand the anal angle of the hindwing is much more broadly blackish. — In 

 cdbescens. Central America occurs the fenestrata-like form albescens Dist. The glassy spots of the forewing are narrow and 

 oblong, and also yellowish brown, especially in the basal half, as is the hindwing except the dark margins and 

 the radial veins. — The pupa of lamirus is elongate, with obtuse tip, brownish with longitudinal rows of dark 

 double spots. The butterfhes are fond of floating about in open places a few metres above the ground in the 

 sunshine and the (J (J drink in the heat of the day at moist places on roads and river banks. 



jthenarde. I. phenarete Dbl. S Heiv. (31 d), from Peru and Bolivia, is transparently yellowish and closely resembles 



decolorata. The margins and bands are, however, much more sharply defined, the hindwing at the distal margin 



lanassa. more sharply dentate, and only the club of the antenna is yellowish. — lanassa Godm. & Salv. is a form of 



fhenarete with yellow brown inner margin to the forewing and the anal angle of the hindwing of the same colour. 



ilione. I. ilione Cr. (31 d), from South Brazil, is the smallest species of Ituna, and very similar to phenarete. 



The yellow club of the antenna is much shorter. The colour of the wings is more vivid yellow, the band over 

 the discocellular of the forewing is broader, and on the under surface the margins and' bands are partly 

 edged with white. 



3. Subfamily: Ithomiinae. 



This group, which is also known under the names Neotropids and Mechanitids, is by far the richest 

 in forms of the Danaids in America. It contains over "/lo of all the forms and like the Lycoreinae is confined 

 to America. Superficially many species recall on the one hand the Lycoreines and on the other the Helico- 

 nines, but are differentiated by the neuration, the long, thin antennae and in the ^ very easily by the hair 

 pencil at the costal margin of the hindwing, which in the Lycoreines is placed at the anus and in the Heli- 

 conines is generally absent. 



Concerning the early stages unfortunately very little is as yet known. The larvae are mostly cylindrical 

 with short tubercles, in some genera with long appendages on segment 2. They are said mostly to live 

 on Solaneae. The pupae, in contrast to the long, thin bodies of the butterflies, are mostly short and stout. 

 They have often brilliantly shining, metallically glossy surfaces, the gloss of which, however, fades after 

 the death of the pupa. 



The butterflies have mostly an elongated body, glossy wings and long antennae. The predominant colour 

 of the wings, in addition to the colourless, glassy tone, is a reddish yellow-brown tinge, combined with blackish, 

 yellow and white markings, this being the so-called ,,Li/coreo-habitus". Blue, red or green is hardly ever met 

 with. According to the more brilliant or more dull colours. the different groups prefer more open places or the 

 dense, dark primeval forest. Their flight is mostly irregular and sluggish. In open, unwooded localities only 

 a few forms are occasionally met Avith. 



