Tithorea tarricina

Tithorea tarricina, the tarricina longwing, variable presonian, or cream-spotted tigerwing, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae.

Description
Tithorea tarricina has a wingspan reaching about 75 - 80 mm, with a forewing of about 40 mm. The pattern of the wings is quite variable. Usually the dorsal sides of the forewings are black with white spots, while the hindwings are orange with black margins. The underside are similar, with many small white spots along the black margins. The antennae are black. The chrysalides are completely golden.

Distribution
This rare species is present in Mexico and in Central and South America.

Habitat
Tithorea tarricina can be found at the edges of forested areas in lowlands and mountain slopes, at an elevation up to 1500 m above sea level. The host plants are in the genus Prestonia (mainly P. longifolia and P. portabellensis – family Apocynaceae).

Subspecies
The following subspecies are recognised:
 * T. t. bonita Haensch, 1903 (Ecuador, Peru)
 * T. t. duenna Bates, 1864 (Mexico to Guatemala)
 * T. t. franciscoi Brown, 1977 (Venezuela)
 * T. t. hecalesina C. & R. Felder, 1865 (Colombia)
 * T. t. lecromi Vitale & Rodriguez, 2004 (Colombia)
 * T. t. parola Godman & Salvin, 1898 (Colombia)
 * T. t. pinthias Godman & Salvin, 1878 (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua)
 * T. t. tagarma Hewitson, 1874 (Bolivia, Peru)
 * T. t. tarricina Hewitson, 1858 (Colombia)