1972] 
293 
Young — Hymenitis 
record are summarized for the butterfly, Hymenitis nero (Hewit- 
son) (Ithomiinae) , in montane wet forest on the Caribbean slopes 
of the central Cordillera in Costa Rica. 
(2) It was found that the larval food plant is Cestrum standleyi 
Morton in the Solanaceae. 
(3) The butterfly co-occurs with several other ithomiines which 
breed regularly in the same plant community, but each of these spe- 
cies had a different host plant. At least two of these other species 
have the same color pattern as H. nero , and as such may be Mul- 
lerian mimics. 
(4) But the unpalatability of H. nero may be questionable since 
the larvae exhibit both cryptic coloration and behavior (nocturnal 
feeding, nest building, etc.). Unpalatability is suggested mainly by 
the host plant being the Solanaceae. Experimental feeding studies 
are needed to verify unpalatability. 
(5) Preliminary studies of life cycle and natural history in other 
selected ithomiine species in different genera suggest that strategy of 
reproduction and larval defense may vary consistently within the 
phylogeny of the group. 
Acknowledgements 
This is a contribution from a College Science Improvement Grant 
(COSIP; Gy-4711) awarded to Lawrence University. Laboratory 
facility and logistic support were provided by the Costa Rican Field 
Studies program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. Patrick 
Eagan (Lawrence) assisted in all field and laboratory studies in 
1971 while Roger Kimber and John Thomason assisted in 1972. 
Dieter C. Wasshausen (Smithsonian Institution) identified the lar- 
val food plant. Dr. Keith S. Brown (Rio de Janeiro) identified the 
ithomiines discussed, and criticized an earlier version of the paper. 
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