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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Hewitson's Glory
Asterope degandii
HEWITSON, 1858
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EPIPHILINI
subtribe -
EPIPHILINA
Asterope
degandii, Rio Pindayo, Peru
Introduction
The
7 species in the genus
Asterope
all share the typical Biblidinae characteristics of rounded wings, and boldly
but simply marked uppersides.
All Asterope
species have black uppersides, with a strong blue or greenish sheen. In the case
of degandii the male has the outer area of the
wings is a shimmering and highly reflective blue, while in the female the outer
wings are steely green. The underside hindwings of all
Asterope species are
grey, overlaid to a greater or lesser extent with a metallic greenish or bluish hue, and
marked with a very distinctive pattern of black spots. In some species
including degandii
the basal area of the underside wings are bright orange.
Asterope
degandii occurs in
the foothills of the eastern Andes, and the lowlands of the upper Amazon basin,
in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This is a lowland rainforest species occuring at altitudes between about
200-800m.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are elusive, and nearly always encountered singly.
Males tend to be seen more often in the afternoon, when they perch
on the foliage of trees at a height of about 3 metres,
periodically making short rapid flights to investigate passing
butterflies.
They are not often seen on the
ground, but occasionally visit urine-soaked sand on well vegetated
sunny river beaches.
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