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Butterflies of
the Amazon rainforest
Lobelia Blue Ringlet
Caeruleuptychia
lobelia
BUTLER, 1870
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
subtribe -
EUPTYCHIINA
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian
Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part
or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from
Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
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Adrian Hoskins
Caeruleuptychia lobelia, Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
There
are about 42 species of "blue ringlets" found in the neotropics,
allocated by Forster ( 1964 ) to the genera
Caeruleuptychia,
Cepheuptychia
and
Chloreuptychia.
All were previously
included in the umbrella genus
Euptychia,
which comprises of about 400 "ringlets" - a group of neotropical Satyrines
characterised by having rounded wings with a series of postmedian ocelli in
combination with dark bands on the verso surface.
Distinguishing between the 25 species of
Caeruleuptychia
is largely a matter of noting differences in the
number and size of the ocelli on the underside hindwings, which are generally
constant in each species.
This
species appears to be confined to the Upper Amazonian areas of Ecuador, Peru and
Brazil.
Caeruleuptychia lobelia, wing detail
Habitats
The butterfly occurs in
wet lowland tropical rainforest at elevations between sea level and circa 900m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Like most rainforest Satyrines, this species is semi-crepuscular in nature, and is rarely seen in the middle of the day, except in the darkest areas of the forest. For most of the day it is inactive, and hides amongst undergrowth.
The wings probably reflect high levels of ultra-violet, as well as visible light, serving to draw the attention of potential mates flying in the dismal lighting conditions which the butterflies favour. Each species probably has an individual ultra-violet pattern which serves to distinguish it from related species, but at close distances scent becomes more important in identifying an insect to a potential mate. Scent is disseminated gradually over a period of days, and becomes weaker as the males age, so an older ( and less virile ) male will be less likely to mate.
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