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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Variegated Batwing
Achlyodes busirus
CRAMER, 1779
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe - PYRGINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Achlyodes
busirus, male, Boca Manu, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
Pyrginae, known colloquially as Flats or Spreadwings, are found in temperate and
tropical habitats throughout the world. In the neotropical region there are
about 990 described species, of which 581 are placed in the tribe Pyrgini, which
includes such well known genera as Urbanus, Astraptes, Bolla, Pyrgus, Erynnis, Sostrata
and Mylon.
Butterflies in the genus
Achlyodes are known variously as Batwings, Bat
Skippers or Sicklewings. There are 5 known species : minna
- found in Bahia, Brazil; mithridates - found on
most Caribbean islands and on the mainland from Texas to Peru;
pallida - found from Mexico to Bolivia;
busirus, which occurs
from Costa Rica to Bolivia; and
munroei
- an exceedingly rare species which was thought to be endemic to Cuba but has
recently been discovered in the Bahamas.
The coloration and pattern varies
from species to species, e.g. pallida is light
golden brown with dark marbling; mithridates is
black with a blue sheen and pale marbling; and busirus
is metallic purplish brown with blackish marbling.
Achlyodes busirus can in addition be distinguished from related species
by the presence of a large yellow patch on the outer half of the underside
hindwings.
Habitats
This is a widespread and common species in much of Central and South America, found at altitudes between
sea level and at least 1000m in disturbed habitats including forest edges, glades, clearings, roadsides, riverbanks,
orchards and farms.
Lifecycle
I have no early stage
data regarding this species. The following
relates to Achlyodes mithridates,
and is probably also applicable to busirus : The
eggs are laid singly on the upperside of leaves of Citrus,
Zanthoxylum and other Rutaceae. The caterpillars
vary in colour from yellowish green to bluish grey, and are marked with a dark
mid-dorsal line, and a broad band of yellow dashes along the sides. They live
solitarily in nests made of silked leaves. The pupa has green wing cases and a
yellowish green abdomen.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are found
throughout the year, but are commonest in the rainy season. During
the dry season the species can still be found, but most examples
tend to be worn and battered.
Males are usually seen as
singletons amongst mixed mud-puddling aggregations of other
Pyrgine skippers such as Anastrus, Antigonus,
Ebrietas and
Gorgopas. Females are seen less often, and visit flowers for nectar.
Both sexes rest and feed with the wings outspread, and the
forewing apex bent downward.
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