Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Harmonia Mantle
Caria
rhacotis
GODMAN
& SALVIN, 1878
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
Caria
rhacotis male, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The genus
Caria
contains some of the most beautiful and elusive species on Earth.
Although fairly common they are rarely seen due to their secretive habits, and
are virtually impossible to follow in flight. Once seen these glittering jewels
of the Amazon are never forgotten.
Lepidopterists
often feel quite overwhelmed by the beauty of these butterflies, but initial
feelings of ecstasy are soon replaced by the rapid onset of frustration,
anguish, despair and an uncontrollable urge to spend the next 2 hours hawking
relentlessly in the vicinity of the sighting, peering into bushes, crawling
about on the ground and searching every nook and cranny, while muttering and
pleading with the butterfly to reveal itself !
There are 14 species in the
genus Caria, 5 of which are restricted to Central America, while the
others including mantinea
and sponsa
are found primarily in Amazonia and the foothills of the eastern Andes. Caria
rhacotis is distributed from Mexico to
Peru.
Several of the species including
mantinea,
plutargus,
castalia
and
smaragdina
are almost identical on the upperside.
Caria rhacotis differs in having the base of the
forewings marked with red and blue. Also, a patch
of suffused orange covers the apex and extends half way down the outer margin.
In the other Caria species the apex is dark, with a
small reddish apical spot.
Habitats
This species is most often seen in disturbed areas of tropical and subtropical
forest, at altitudes between about 200-1000m.
Lifecycle
The eggs are laid singly
under the leaves of Celtis iguanea ( Ulmaceae ).
The larvae are densely hairy, and live and feed within rolled leaf tubes.
Adult behaviour
The adults
seem to spend much of their time in the canopy, but males descend on
hot sunny days to imbibe moisture from river beaches, or from the
beds of dry streams. In my experience they tend to settle in more
open areas than other Caria species.
They have a rapid and erratic flight
which is virtually impossible to follow with the
eye, but once settled they tend to remain static for long periods.
Despite their bright metallic colouration they are actually quite
difficult to spot on the ground, where they often settle amidst a
mosaic of moss, algae and multi-coloured sand.
The butterflies
usually bask with the forewings swept back, half covering the
hindwings.
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