Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Watkins Brown Morpho
Antirrhea watkinsi
ROSENBERG & TALBOT, 1914
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
MORPHINAE
Tribe - MORPHINI
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Antirrhea watkinsi,
Satipo, Peru
© Peter
Bruce-Jones |
Introduction
The Morphinae includes
about 150 neotropical species, of which 42 are placed in the tribe
Morphini, which includes the 29 dazzling blue Morpho
species, 2 Caerois species and 11
Antirrhea species.
Antirrhea
watkinsi appears to be restricted to the eastern Andean foothills of Peru
and Bolivia, and the lowland rainforests of Rondonia and Mato Grosso in Brazil.
Habitats
This species is restricted to rainforest habitats at altitudes between 0-1800m.
The butterfly inhabits deeply shaded and swampy areas within the forest.
Lifecycle
I have no information
specific to watkinsi. In most
Antirrhea species the egg is pale green dome-shaped, and laid singly on
the leaves of palms ( Arecaceae ). The fully grown larvae are typically hairy,
red and yellow, with a red head and a pair of very long whip-like caudal tails.
They bite out rectangular holes from the palm leaves, giving their presence
away. The pupae are squarish, pale yellow with olive wing cases, and have
thorn-like protuberances on the abdomen.
Adult behaviour
In common
with other Antirrhea species, this
butterfly is usually encountered singly, usually being found in
the darkest dampest parts of the forest undergrowth, where it
skulks beneath bushes in the daytime. The flight is swift,
skimming and weaving just above the surface of the ground.
Males feed at dung, urine soaked ground, decomposing
fruit, moulds and fungi on the forest floor. They can occasionally be seen on open
paths and trails at dawn or dusk, or during heavily overcast
weather.
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