|
Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Malta
Groundstreak
Calycopis
malta
Family -
LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
THECLINAE
Tribe - EUMAEINI
Calycopis malta,
Mariposa, Satipo, Peru.
Introduction
All neotropical Theclines are placed in the tribe Eumaeini, which comprises of
1,058 currently known species
classified into 83
genera. The Eumaeini are very poorly represented in museum collections, and
until very recently were ignored by most workers, the exception being Robbins,
whose revision of the tribe was published in the Lamas neotropical checklist,
2004. It is hardly surprising therefore, especially when taking into account the
small size of the butterflies and their secretive habits, that it is estimated
that there are probably several hundred species still awaiting discovery.
The genus Calycopis comprises of 72 species,
variously distributed from Mexico to Paraguay. The males of
most species have metallic blue uppersides, while the females in most cases tend to be
a dull
earthy brown colour. Both sexes of all Calycopis
species and have convex outer margins to the forewings. The
undersides bear a dark post median line, and usually a short vertical line at
the end of the discal cells. The hindwings have a distinctively shaped wiggly
"hairstreak" post-median line, and either one or two black-centred red spots at
the tornus. The hindwings also bear 3 short white-tipped tails. Many species can
be identified easily by studying the differences in the size, shape and
position of the red markings, but there are many others that can only reliably
be distinguished from one another by examining the genitalia microscopically.
Calycopis
malta is found throughout most of the eastern Andes and the Amazon basin.
Habitats
This species is found in primary and secondary rainforest at altitudes between
about 100-1200m above sea level.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies probably spend most of their lives at or near
ground level, and are thus popularly known as Groundstreaks ( the
"streak" part referring to the thin lines on the underside ). They
seem to obtain all their sustenance from moisture imbibed from the
ground, or from the surface of leaves.
|
