Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Superb Numberwing
Callicore excelsior
HEWITSON, 1858
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - CALLICORINI
Callicore
excelsior pastazza,
Tingo Maria, Peru
Introduction
There are about 20 species in the genus
Callicore,
all of which bear distinctive and graphic patterns on the underside hindwings,
often resembling numbers or letters of the alphabet. The uppersides of all
species are blackish, marked on the forewings with bright red or orange bands.
The hindwings of several species also have red or orange markings but in most species
they are plain black, with a very reflective brilliant blue sheen.
Unfortunately these beautiful butterflies are killed in vast
numbers for their wings which are used by the souvenir trade for the production
of decorated plates, jewellery, place mats and other trivia.
Callicore excelsior is black on the upper surface, with a metallic deep blue sheen on the hindwings, and a broad arc
of orange or red ( according to subspecies ) on the forewings.
This species
occurs in
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.
Habitats
Callicore
excelsior is found in
wet tropical rainforest
at altitudes between about 200-1000m on the eastern side of the Andes.
Lifecycle
I have no
information specific to excelsior. In most
Callicore species the eggs are white, and are laid
singly on Serjania,
Allophylus or other Sapindaceae.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually encountered as solitary males.
They have a rapid and powerful flight over short distances.
Males often visit river beaches to imbibe dissolved minerals.
On
hot sunny days they
habitually land on the arms, legs and backs of
humans to imbibe sweat. For photographers this behaviour can
be maddening, as no matter how many times you shoo the
butterfly off and try to cajole it into settling on a natural
substrate, it insists on returning immediately to land on your trousers, shoulder,
boots or camera bag. Moreover the longer
you spend trying to get a photograph the braver the butterfly
becomes, and the more likely it is to glue itself to your back or the
top of your head !
Callicore
excelsior pastazza,
Tingo Maria, Peru
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