Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Ocellated Owlet
Catoblepia
berecynthia
CRAMER, 1777
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
MORPHINAE
Tribe - BRASSOLINI
|
 |
|
Catoblepia
berecynthia,
Pantiacolla, Rio Alto Madre de Dios, 550m, Peru |
Introduction
A few decades ago the Owl butterflies were considered to be
members of a now defunct family, the Brassolidae. Following revisions
by Erlich and Ackery all butterflies with only 2 pairs of fully
formed walking legs were placed in
the Nymphalidae. The Brassolidae were consequently reduced in rank to a
subfamily Brassolinae, then relegated further to become the
Brassolini - a tribe of the Morphinae.
The Morphinae includes
about 150 neotropical species, 93 of which are placed in the tribe
Brassolini. Of these, 73 are placed in the Brassolina - a subtribe
which includes
Blepolenis,
Brassolis, Dynastor,
Caligopsis, Catoblepia,
Dasyopthalma, Mielkella,
Opsiphanes, Mimoblepia,
Opoptera, Selenophanes,
Penetes,
Eryphanis,
Orobrassolis and
Caligo. All are crepuscular or
nocturnal in behaviour although a few species also fly by day in
the darkest areas within their habitats. They are among the oldest
butterflies on Earth - Brassolis e.g. first evolved in the late Eocene, about 40
million years ago.
There are 8 species in
the genus Catoblepia, distributed
variously from Belize to Bolivia.
There are considerable differences in the underside patterning of
these 8 species. Some, including berecynthia
and generosa are quite plain, with
small inconspicuous ocelli that are roughly equal
in size. Some other species such as
amphirhoe and
orgetorix ( = sticheli ) are
much more prominently marked, and have only two ocelli, but these
are much larger in size and give the butterflies a more
Caligo-like appearance.
On the upperside all
Catoblepia species are dark brown
with a blue sheen. There is a dull orange diagonal
subapical band on the forewings. Some species also have a
similarly coloured submarginal
band on the hindwings.
Catoblepia berecynthia is the
commonest and most widespread member of the genus, being found
from Nicaragua to Bolivia.
Catoblepia berecynthia
( Peru ), wing scales, highly magnified
Habitats
This species is found in primary rainforest at altitudes between 0-900m.
Lifecycle
The egg is pale green. It
is laid singly on palms ( Arecaceae ). The larva is pale brown with darker longitudinal
stripes. It's tail bears a pair of caudal prongs and it's head is adorned with a
crown of 6 short horns.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are active mainly in the pre-dawn period, and again to
a lesser degree at dusk. On dull days they may also be found
feeding at decomposing fruit on the forest floor, or at sap runs.
|
