Introduction
The Pyrginae, popularly known as Flats or Spreadwings, are a cosmopolitan subfamily distributed across temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world. In the Americas there are 990 species.
The three genera Cycloglypha Camptopleura and Helias are collectively known as ‘bent-skippers’ because of the way the butterflies rest and bask with the forewings bent so that the apex is folded down. Another characteristic they all have in common is the metallic sheen on the wings.
The genus Helias comprises of 3 known species, all very similar in appearance, and confined to the neotropical region. They are small butterflies averaging about 4 cms in wingspan.
Helias cama is distributed from Mexico to Colombia.
Habitats
This is a forest edge species, found at elevations between sea level and about 600m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Males occasionally visit damp patches to imbibe mineralised moisture but are more commonly observed basking or resting on the foliage of bushes or herbaceous plants. They habitually rest with wings outspread, and with the apex of each forewing folded down. They have a rapid flight, zig-zagging and flying about in tight circles, and often go on short sorties before returning to their original perching places, suggesting that they may be territorial, and using the perches as lookouts from which they survey passing females.