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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Cramer's
Shoemaker
Archaeoprepona
licomedes
CRAMER, 1777
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
CHARAXINAE
Tribe -
PREPONINI
Archaeoprepona licomedes, Rio
Shima, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The
Charaxinae are a group of robust, medium to large Nymphalids characterised by
having a rapid and powerful flight, stout bodies, and
a habit of feeding at dung and carrion.
They
are represented in Africa by Charaxes, Palla
and Euxanthe,
in the Oriental and Australian regions by
Charaxes
and Polyura;
and in the neotropics by genera including
Consul, Memphis,
Fountainea, Agrias, Prepona,
and
Archaeoprepona.
There are 7 species in
Prepona
and 8 in Archaeoprepona.
Archaeoprepona and
Prepona
are very similar above, being dark brown with dazzling turquoise or blue bands. They can be distinguished
by examining the underside hindwings. In
Archaeoprepona
there is a tiny submarginal ocellus in each cell, but in
Prepona
the ocellus near the apex, and the one near the tornus, are both greatly enlarged.
Another difference is that
Prepona males have
tufts of yellow androconial scales on the hind-wings whereas in
Archaeoprepona
these are black.
Archaeoprepona licomedes
is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This species is found in rainforests at altitudes
between about 200-1200m.
Lifecycle
The lifecycle is unknown but is probably
similar to
demophon
as follows : The eggs are spherical, white, and laid singly on Annonaceae or
Malpigiaceae. The larvae have a prominent thoracic hump, and are dark brown on
the thorax and below the spiracles, the remainder being pale brown. The head
bears a pair of stout recurved horns. The chrysalis is bluish green with irregular
white spots resembling lichen, and is ovoid in shape with a prominent thoracic
bulge. It is suspended by the cremaster from a leaf or twig.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies have an agile and very powerful flight, and are only
active in hot sunny conditions. They are known to live for up to 8
weeks, and to remain in the same area for long periods.
Males perch
on tree trunks or on foliage,
sitting facing head-downwards and with wings half open. They take
part in impressive aerial sorties, chasing each other in broad
circles around the tree tops. After each sortie they each return
to their original perch.
Both sexes
commonly feed at sap runs, rotting fruit, and less commonly at
urine, dung or carrion. They descend from the tree tops in a
series of steps, pausing for a few minutes at various points on
the tree trunk or on foliage. Once they reach ground level they
generally become so engrossed in feeding that they are oblivious
of any human disturbance, but if deliberately alarmed they can fly
off with amazing speed!
Archaeoprepona licomedes, baited
with prawns, Rio
Shima, Satipo, Peru
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