Symmachia

Symmachia is a genus in the butterfly family Riodinidae present only in the Neotropical realm.

This genus is distinguished by a strong bulging-out of the costa of the forewing of the males, this characteristic bulge recedes in but few species, presumably owing to a mimetic transformation. This widening of the forewing is accompanied by a peculiar flight resembling that of Thecla, which becomes very conspicuous in the non-mimetic species, whereas in the mimetic species it is replaced by that of the causal originals to which reference is made in the single species, and which may more correctly be eliminated from the genus. They are more closely allied to the Gricosoma than the non-mimetic species, but we shall here give the precedence to the more typical forms. Many Symmachia are great rarities, and they are extremely peculiar in the shape as well as in the colouring. They fly in the day time, not continuously, and rest beneath leaves.