Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Penelope's Ringlet
Cissia penelope
FABRICIUS, 1775
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
subtribe -
EUPTYCHIINA
Cissia penelope, Rio
Pindayo, Peru
Introduction
There are 1100 known species of Satyrinae in the neotropical region. About 400
of these are placed in the Euptychiina. Butterflies within this tribe include
the "ringlet" genera Euptychia,
Magneuptychia,
Harjesia,
Cissia,
Caeruleuptychia,
Magneuptychia, Harjesia etc; together with
Oressinoma and the various "wood nymph" genera i.e.
Parataygetis, Posttaygetis
and Taygetis. Most are inhabitants of the forest
understorey and tend to fly close to the ground. They generally avoid sunlight
and prefer to fly at dawn or on cloudy days when light levels and temperatures
are low.
Until
fairly recently almost all of the "ringlets" were placed in the genus
Euptychia,
but revisions by Forster and Lamas divide this
"convenience" genus into a number of smaller genera, on the basis of
anatomical differences and larval foodplants.
The 15
Cissia
species
are smaller than most other members of the Euptychiina. They are generally a
dull plain earthy brown colour on the upperside. On the underside they are pale
brown with broad dark brown bands and a creamy outer band. The hindwings have 2
large black ocelli within each of which is a pair of silvery highlights.
Cissia penelope
is one of the commonest and most widespread members of the Euptychiina, being found
throughout most of tropical South America.
Habitats
The habitats of this butterfly are diverse, and include lowland secondary rainforest, cloudforest up to about 1200m, and disturbed
semi-open habitats within forested areas.
Lifecycle
I have no information specific to penelope. The
lifecycle is likely to be similar to that of other Cissia
species, all of which produce round eggs with vertical striations. The eggs are
laid either on or near the foodplants, which according to species may be either
grasses ( Poaceae ), palms ( Arecaceae ), or arrowroots ( Marantaceae ). The
larvae unlike those of most other Satyrines only have 4 instars. When fully
grown they are brownish in colour with numerous thin darker and paler lines
along the back and sides. The body tapers noticeably towards the head and tail.
The latter has a pair of short caudal prongs. Like most other Satyrine larvae
they are crepuscular or nocturnal feeders, and hide at the base of plants during
the daytime. The pupa according to species may be pale green, brown or blackish,
mottled or peppered with darker markings. It hangs by the cremaster from a stem
or leaf of the foodplant.
Adult behaviour
As with other Cissia species, the butterflies are solitary in behaviour, but invariably several
will be found within the same vicinity. They fly in cloudy or
sunny conditions, and can be found deep within the forest, or in
open areas such as forest edges or along sunlit forest
tracks.
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