Mestra dorcas


Mestra is a genus of nymphalid butterfly. It contains the single species Mestra dorcas, the Jamaican mestra, which is found from southern North America to South America and possibly Mestra cana, the St Lucia mestra, found in the Lesser Antilles.
The wingspan is 35–50 mm. Adults are on wing year round in southern Texas, but it is most numerous from June to November. They have been recorded feeding on the nectar of Lantana flowers.
The larvae feed on Tragia neptifolia.

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:
  • M. d. amymoneAmymone
  • M. d. apicalis
  • M. d. dorcas Hübner,
  • M. d. hersilia
  • M. d. hypermestra Hübner,
  • M. d. latimargo
  • ''M. d. semifulva''