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Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of the Amazon rainforest
 
Aulestes Redline Doctor
Ancyluris aulestes CRAMER, 1777
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily - RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Ancyluris aulestes, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
 
Introduction
 
The genus Ancyluris comprises of 16 beautiful tailed Riodinids, all confined to the neotropical region. They are closely related to the genus Rhetus, so much so that the females of Ancyluris aristodorus and Rhetus periander are almost indistinguishable, at least from the uppersides.
 
Most Ancyluris species have blackish-brown uppersides, marked with red or orange bands, which tend to be much paler in the females. Two species, formosissima and aristodorus, are marked instead with broad white bands. One species, inca, has a flush of metallic blue on the upperside hindwings. The undersides of most species are bright metallic blue, marked in some species with spots or patches of red.
 
Ancyluris aulestes occurs in Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru.
 
Habitats
 
This is a lowland and mid-elevation rainforest species found at altitudes between about 200-1000m.
 
Lifecycle
 
No details available.
 
Adult behaviour

 

The males, and less commonly the females, can be found imbibing moisture from bare soil or sandy riverbanks. They are nearly always encountered singly. Both sexes tend to avoid the heat of midday, preferring the cooler conditions of early morning or late afternoon. Even then are more likely to be found in shady areas than in full sunshine.

 

 

 
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