Riodinidae : Riodininae

Dianesia ramsdeni (Skinner, 1912)
Ramsden's Metalmark
Picture
Dianesia ramsdeni 29 Sept 2009 Monte Iberia 500 m Baracoa Guantanamo © Rayner Núñez
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 32-37mm. Sexes similar though males have narrower more pointed wings. Although it can be seen in daytime activity seems to increase towards dusk and Hernández describes seeing it when darkness was so far advanced that the butterflies were scarcely distinguishable. This combined with its habit of often settling on the underside of leaves means that it can more easily be mistaken for a moth rather than a butterfly.
Range: It has been recorded only from eastern Cuba between Pinares and Baracoa in the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains. It is found from relatively low altitudes of 100–200m (Camarones, Balcón deIberia) up to peaks of more than 1000m (El Toldo).
A similar species Dianesia carteri occurs in the Bahamas.
Status: A scarce Endemic in Cuba and found only in the mountains of the east.
Nectar Plants: Adults have been seen visiting flowers of Euphorbia helenae Urb. (Euphorbiaceae), Scaevola wrightii (Griseb.) M. Gómez (Goodeniaceae), Spathelia wrightii Vict. (Rutaceae), Clusia sp. (Clusiaceae) and Cyrilla sp. (Cyrillaceae)..
Larval Foodplants: Many species of Buxus are known to be used including Buxus crassifolia, B. nipensis, B. pilosula, B. bissei, B. braimbrigdeorum, B. excisa, B. ekmanii, B. gonoclada, B. olivacea, B. retusa, B. shaferi and B. yunquensis.
Larva
Foodplants and Habitat