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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Mesentina Sister
Adelpha mesentina
CRAMER, 1777
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - LIMENITIDINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Adelpha mesentina,
male, Rio Pindayo, Peru
Introduction
There are 85 known species of
Adelpha,
all but one of which are confined to the neotropical region.
Adelpha
are characterised by having a distinctive marbled pattern overlaid on a
dark brown ground colour; and by the presence of a broad orange or white band on the
forewings. The hindwings of most species have a white median band.
There are several Adelpha
species that feature a broad orange band on the forewings, but lack any orange
or white markings on the hindwings. In most of these species the orange fw band starts mid way
along the costa and terminates at the tornus. In contrast mesentina
the band runs vertically, terminating half way along the inner margin.
Adelpha mesentina
occurs in the eastern Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia, also on the Guyana
shield, and throughout central and western Amazonia. It is a common species in
the southern Amazon, e.g. in Mato Grosso, Rondonia and Madre de Dios.
Habitats
Adelpha mesentina
breeds in lowland and mid-elevation wet forest habitats at altitudes between sea
level and about
1200m.
Lifecycle
Unknown,
but the following generalisations are applicable to the genus
Adelpha
:
The larval foodplants of
Adelpha
species are diverse, although the majority of
species feed on Rubiaceae, Moraceae, Urticaceae or Ulmaceae.
The
eggs of most species are white or pale green, and laid singly on the foliage of
the foodplants.
The
larvae are cryptically coloured and have 2 rows of conspicuous spines along
the back, with those on the first two segments enlarged and directed forward,
while the third pair are directed backward.
The
pupae, which are suspended by the cremaster, are in some species green or brown,
while others are entirely silver, and shiny. The pupae of some species are
decorated with numerous spikes and projections, and sometimes have very
prominent palpi.
Adelpha mesentina,
Rio Alto Madre de Dios, Peru
Adult behaviour
Adelpha mesentina is almost
always encountered in two's and three's,
usually in the company of other Adelpha
species.
Males often visit damp ground
to imbibe mineral rich moisture. They normally settle for several
minutes at a time, and hold their wings flat when feeding. In
exceptionally hot weather they feed with wings held erect.
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