3. Tithorea pinthias (family Nymphalidae)

Tithorea pinthias is a rare, low-density butterfly and only 19 caterpillars have been found during the 31+ years of the inventory.  This is 19 records out of a total of 427,000 records through 2008 (available on the web here).  After many years of searching, it is clear that some species of moths and butterflies manage to survive and find mates despite occurring at extremely low densities.  And we know far less about the details of their natural history than about common species, for obvious reasons.

They have been found eating  two species of plants, both in the toxic plant family Apocynaceae.  The caterpillars are brightly colored and very likely toxic too.







This page is a complement to http://www.ontariogenomics.ca/outreach/BOLD3