Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Coolie
Anartia amathea
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - VICTORINIINI
Anartia amathea, Tingo Maria, Peru
Introduction
The
genus
Anartia
is closely allied to
Junonia
and its Afro-Oriental equivalent
Precis,
and shares their liking for sunny open habitats in disturbed woodland.
There are 5
Anartia
species of which
jatrophae
and amathea are the most widespread. The others are
lyrtea
from Haiti,
chrysopelea
from Cuba, and
fatima from
central America.
Anartia
amathea is a very common, and very beautiful
species which is found on both sides of the Andes, from Colombia to northern
Chile. It's ubiquitous nature and contiguous populations result in regular
exchange of genetic material, so no subspecies have yet evolved, and there is
very little variation in markings between individuals.
Habitats
This butterfly is found in disturbed habitats such as gardens, forest clearings,
orchards, roadsides, fields and pastures. It also occurs in primary rainforest,
along riverbanks and in glades. It is found at altitudes between sea level and
about 1000m, but is commonest between 100-500m.
Anartia amathea, Tingo Maria, Peru
Lifecycle
I have no information regarding
the lifecycle but is the larvae almost certainly feed on plants in the family
Acanthaceae.
Adult behaviour
Anartia amathea is active on warm overcast days
as well as in sunshine, and will
fly even during light rain showers.
In sunny weather the adults spend a
lot of time sitting perching on the foliage of bushes with their wings held
erect; but are easily disturbed and difficult to approach. In
dull or cool conditions, particularly in the early morning, they will
bask for long periods on low foliage.
The butterflies are usually
encountered in localised populations, but where they occur the
species is
often very abundant - e.g. I once drove along a dirt track through
a pasture in Ecuador
and saw hundreds of these beautiful creatures fly up from the
ground; and on walking back along the track found that several
dozen had accidentally been crushed by the tyres of the vehicle.
I have seen no evidence of any prenuptial
ritual, but on many occasions I've witnessed the strange
mate-rejection ritual, in which a gravid female rocks her erect
wings continually from side to side, to indicate her lack of
interest in the unlucky male !
Early in the evenings the butterflies
go to roost, often in groups of a dozen or more, resting beneath
the foliage of bushes or broad-leaved grasses.
Anartia amathea at roost, Tingo Maria, Peru
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