Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
White-spotted Agrias
Agrias amydon
HEWITSON, 1854
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
CHARAXINAE
Tribe -
PREPONINI
Agrias amydon amydonius, Satipo,
Peru
Introduction
The Charaxinae are represented in
the neotropics by 2 tribes - the Anaeini, which includes
Consul, Memphis, Anaea,
Polygrapha, Coenophlebia,
Fountainea, Zaretis,
Hypna and Siderone;
and the Preponini, which includes Anaeomorpha,
Archaeoprepona, Prepona,
Noreppa and Agrias.
There are 5
Agrias species, and numerous subspecies. In amydon the
upperside is dark brown with vivid crimson patches on the forewings. In some
subspecies e.g. zenodorus and
boliviensis the crimson is replaced by bright orange. The upperside
hindwings have a smaller patch metallic blue, which varies in size and hue
according to subspecies.
Males of all Agrias species have prominent yellow
tufts of androconial scales on the hindwings.
Agrias
are amongst the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They are
highly prized by
collectors who use plantain, rotting fish and
various other cocktails to attract males down from the tree
tops. I remember vividly an occasion in 2005 when our
butterfly-watching group in Brazil found an Agrias
feeding at a fermenting plantain which we had
earlier placed on a forest track as bait. Gasps of excitement were
followed by verbal pleas to the butterfly to remain
still while we each took turns to edge towards it and take photos.
The atmosphere was electric, and impatience got the better of us - the prospect
of missing a photo was so unbearable that we all ended up sprawled on our
stomachs,
piled on top of each other, poking lenses over each other's shoulders, while
being bitten and stung by a myriad of bees, wasps and ants. Amazingly the
Agrias stayed
still long enough for all of us to get good photographs. It was the sole subject
of conversation for about 3 days afterwards !
Agrias
are one of an extremely small number of butterflies which have been known to
hybridise with other genera in the wild - a taxon named
Prepona x sarumani was described by Smart in
1976, and is believed to be a hybrid between Prepona
praeneste abrupta x Agrias claudina lugens.
It was captured at Rio Huallaga, Peru. Fruhstorfer recognised the very close
relationship between Prepona and
Agrias, and some authors e.g. DeVries question
whether the 2 genera are distinct. The current taxonomical "bible" - the Atlas
of Neotropical Lepidoptera ( Lamas, 2004 ) regards the 2 genera as being
distinct, and recognises the hybrid under the name given to it by Smart.
Agrias amydon is distributed from Mexico to Bolivia. The subspecies
amydonius is
found in central Peru, and in Amazonas state, Brazil.
Agrias amydon amydonius, Satipo,
Peru
Habitats
This species is found in deciduous and evergreen forest at altitudes
between about 100-1000m.
Lifecycle
All Agrias sp are thought to feed on
Erythroxylum ( Erythroxylaceae ). There are also
unconfirmed records of Myrtaceae and Quiinaceae being used. The eggs are smooth
and round. They are laid singly on leaves of the foodplants. The larvae are pale
brownish, marked with lichen-green spots. They feed
nocturnally, and rest by day on twigs. The chrysalis is pale
green, rotund, with a dorsal hump, and tapers sharply toward the stout cremaster
and the bifid head. It is suspended from a stem or leaf of the foodplant.
Agrias amydon amydonius, Satipo,
Peru
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies spend most of their lives high in the canopy, and are
normally only observed if they are attracted to decomposing fruit,
rotting fish, or other bait laid along forest tracks or trails.
They are only active in hot conditions, but can be attracted to
bait either in sunshine or in shade.
The butterflies always feed and rest
with their wings firmly closed, but if disturbed they sometimes
give a very rapid flick of the wings, displaying the vivid crimson
and blue patches on the glorious upperside.
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