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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Leprieur's Glory
Asterope leprieuri
FEISTHAMEL, 1835
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EPIPHILINI
subtribe -
EPIPHILINA
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Asterope leprieuri, Pantiacolla,
Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
There are 7 species in
the genus
Asterope,
which was formerly known as
Callithea.
All are characterised by having metallic bluish or greenish undersides marked
with a similar pattern of black spots, and red or orange markings near the
base of the wings. In some species including
degandii,
buckleyi
and certain races of
leprieuri
these bright patches extend to cover the inner two-thirds of the hindwing area.
On
the upper surface the wings are black, with metallic greenish areas near the
apex, and a deep blue sheen across the entire wing area that is dazzling when
the butterflies are in flight. Some species such as
batesii,
markii
and hewitsoni
and sapphira
also have patches of bright orange on the upperside.
Males of
leprieuri
have a very large patch of dark androconial scales at the base of the upperside
fore-wings. Both sexes, in common with other
Asterope
species have large spatulate tips to the antennae, and white proboscises.
Asterope
species are distributed widely across the Amazonian region, with
leprieuri
being found from Colombia to Brazil and Bolivia.
Asterope leprieuri, Pantiacolla,
Madre de Dios, Peru
Habitats
This
species is found in primary rainforest at altitudes between sea
level and about 1000 metres, east of the Andes.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
I have not
observed females of this species.
Males
are solitary in behaviour. They are usually seen in hot and
slightly rocky places such as open areas beside Andean roads, or
on the upper part of rocky or pebble strewn sandbanks, where they
imbibe mineralised moisture through their distinctive white
proboscises.
They are easily
disturbed, and at such times immediately fly up to settle on the
foliage of trees, usually at a height of about 3-5 metres. From
these vantage points they survey their surroundings until any
perceived threat has passed. Before returning to ground
level they invariably make a reconnaissance flight,
circling rapidly and widely several times at a height of about 4-5 metres to
make sure that "the coast is clear", and then resettling very close
to their original feeding place.
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