Anthanassa frisia

Anthanassa frisia, the Cuban crescentspot, Cuban checkerspot or Cuban crescent, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. Subspecies tulcis is known by the common names pale-banded crescent or Tulcis crescent; it is treated as a species by some authors.

Anthanassa frisia
A. f. frisia
A. f. frisia both in Cuba
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Anthanassa
Species:	A. frisia
Binomial name
Anthanassa frisia (Poey, 1832)
Synonyms
Melitea frisia Poey, 1832 Eresia frisia Hewitson, [1866] Phyciodes frisia Eresia gyges Hewitson, [1864] Eresia hermas Hewitson, [1864] Eresia conferta C. & R. Felder, [1867] Phyciodes brancodia Schaus, 1902 Phyciodes aequatorialis Röber, 1913 Phyciodes aequatorialis gisela Röber, 1913 Phyciodes taeniata Röber, 1913 Anthanassa taeniata Anthanassa dubia Melitaea tulcis Bates, 1864 Eresia genigueh Reakirt, 1865 Eresia archesilea R. Felder, 1869 Eresia punctata Edwards, 1870 Phyciodes tulcis Anthanassa tulcis

Subspecies

• Anthanassa frisia frisia (West Indies, Florida)
• Anthanassa frisia hermas (Brazil (Pernambuco, Bahia, São Paulo, Mato Grosso), Paraguay, northern Argentina, Ecuador)
• Anthanassa frisia taeniata (Ecuador, western Peru)
• Anthanassa frisia dubia (coasts of Venezuela and Colombia)
• Anthanassa frisia tulcis (Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Guatemala to Panama)

Description

The wingspan of subspecies frisia is 32–45 mm. Adults are on wing most of the year in southern Florida and throughout the year in the tropics. Subspecies tulcis has a wingspan of 32–35 mm. Adults are on wing from May to November in southern Texas.

Distribution

The nominate subspecies is found in the West Indies and southern Florida, with strays to northern Florida. Subspecies tulcis is found from Argentina north through Central America and Mexico to southern Texas, strays to west Texas and southern Arizona. Other subspecies are resident to South America.

Ecology

Larvae of subspecies frisia feed on Beloperone guttata, while tulcis larvae have been recorded on Dicliptera species. Other recorded food plants include Ruellia species. Adults feed on flower nectar.

Gallery

• 
  A. f. tulcis, or A. tulcis, male, Panama
• 
  A. f. tulcis, female, Belize
• 
  A. f. tulcis
• 
  A. f. frisia, Jamaica
• 
  A. f. hermas, Brazil

External links

• Cuban crescent at Butterflies and Moths of North America
• Tulcis crescent at Butterflies and Moths of North America