Distribution
Species of ''Eumaeus'' occur from central Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies to Bolivia, Brazil and Peru. ''Eumaeus atala, E. atala'' occurs in the West Indies and Florida. ''Eumaeus childrenae, E. childrenae'' and ''Eumaeus toxea, E. toxea'' both occur in Mexico, with some overlap in their ranges. ''Eumaeus godartii, E. godartii'' occurs in the Isthmus (southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama) and western South America. ''Eumaeus minyas, E. minyas'' and ''Eumaeus toxana, E. toxana'' both occur in South America east of the Andes. Their ranges are not well understood, but overlap in Peru. The Isthmus and South American species of ''Eumaeus'', ''E. godartii'', ''E. minyas'', and ''E. toxana'', form a clade.Obligate herbivory
Caterpillars of the genus ''Eumaeus'' are obligate herbivores of cycads in the genera ''Zamia'', ''Dioon'', and ''Ceratozamia''. The caterpillars normally feed on leaves and stems, but in some cases have been observed feeding on Strobilus, strobili (reproductive cones). Cycads harbor many toxins, including cycasin (a carcinogenic) and neurotoxic glucoside. Other glucoside toxins present may include macrozamin (:de:Macrozamin, de) and several neocycasins. ''Eumaeus'' caterpillars have Aposematism, aposematic coloration, being bright red with yellow or white bands, and adults have red elements on their body and wings. The caterpillars sequester and retain the toxins consumed from cycad plant tissue, rendering all stages of ''Eumaeus'' distasteful to predators.''Zamia'' hosts
With one known exception, each ''Zamia'' species hosts only one species of ''Eumaeus'' caterpillars. Relationships of many ''Zamia'' and ''Eumaeus'' species had not been established as of 2023. The known host dependencies of ''Eumaeus'' species on ''Zamia'' species include: Species in the Florida/Caribbean clade, or Zamia#Zamia pumila species complex, ''Zamia pumila'' species complex, are hosts for caterpillars of ''E. atala''. Species in the Zamia#Fischeri Clade (II), Fisheri clade, and ''Zamia cremnophila, Z. cremnophila'' of the Mega-Mexico A sub-clade, are hosts for caterpillars of ''E. childrenae''. Some species in the ''Zamia loddigesii, Z. loddigessii'' species complex of the Mega-Mexico A sub-clade are hosts for caterpillars of ''E. toxea''. Several species in the South American clade east of the Andes are hosts for caterpillars of ''E. minyas''. Many species in the South American clade west of the Andes are hosts for caterpillars of ''E. godartii''. One ''Zamia'' species found east of the Andes, ''Zamia poeppigiana, Z. poeppigiana'''', is host for caterpillars of both ''E. minyas'' and ''E. toxana''. Another ''Zamia'' species east of the Andes, ''Zamia amazonum, Z. amazonum'', also hosts caterpillars of ''E. toxana''.Selected species
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Sources
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* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1760331 Eumaeini, Eumaeus Butterflies of North America Butterflies of Central America Butterflies of the Caribbean Lycaenidae of South America Lycaenidae genera Taxa named by Jacob Hübner