Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Paradise Phantom
Cithaerias phantoma
FASSL, 1922
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - HAETERINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Cithaerias
phantoma, Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru |
Introduction
One of the great pleasures of
studying neotropical butterflies, as opposed to those from other
regions of the world, is that many species have a distinct
personality. Some such as the
Cithaerias Phantoms taunt the
butterfly photographer, allowing him to approach closely, but
never quite close enough. He crawls about on the forest floor,
getting tied up in a tangle of prickly branches, while acquiring
"souvenirs" in the form of excruciatingly painful bites from
chiggers and bullet ants.
Just as he gets within range of
the butterfly a mosquito lands on his ear, but he stays still as
it inflicts yet another bite, and endures the agony because he is
just about to release the shutter button and capture an image of
one of the most elusive and exceedingly beautiful butterflies in
the rainforest. At this precise and very carefully anticipated
moment the Cithaerias casually takes
flight, glides across the forest floor, weaving in and out among
the low vegetation, and resettles a couple of metres further from
the trail. Foolishly the photographer follows it, as the Paradise
Phantom plays catch-me-if-you-can, until just before dusk, and
after an hour of pursuit it eventually allows him to capture it's
beauty.
With a passable image safely in
his camera he then struggles painfully to his feet and prepares to
make the long trek back to the comfort of his camp before darkness
falls. At this moment he suddenly realises that he has completely
lost his bearings. In every direction the forest looks the same -
an impenetrable tangle of prickly stems, full of snakes, venomous
spiders and biting insects, but somehow he has to find his way
back, and after a period of heart-pounding panic he rediscovers
the trail, although he has little idea which direction to take on
it. At this moment the Cithaerias
reappears, settles on the track a couple of metres away, and
spreads it's wings, a sight very rarely seen, displaying the vivid
paradise-pink of it's hindwings. Ecstasy.
Cithaerias phantoma
is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This species is found only in
deeply shaded areas of primary rainforest, at altitudes between about 200-800m.
Lifecycle
Nothing is known of the
lifecycle or foodplants of
Cithaerias
species. However it is possible to make some educated guesses. The larvae of most Satyrine butterflies feed on monocotyledons ( grasses, palms, bamboos, sedges,
rushes, orchids, lilies etc ).
Cithaerias butterflies tend to be associated more
strongly with palm than with bamboos or other monocotyledons. The larvae are
likely to be similar to those of other Satyrines - slim, cylindrical, dull
greenish or brownish in colour, with thin longitudinal stripes along the back
and sides, devoid of setae or tubercles, and possessing caudal prongs, and a
pair of knob-like projections on the head.
Adult behaviour
The adults are almost always encountered singly. They are denizens of the
darkest and dampest recesses of the rainforest, and appear to be
very localised. The butterflies are crepuscular in nature - they
can sometimes be found in the middle of the day, but are far more
often encountered at dusk than at any other time.
The flight is low over the
ground, skulking and phantom-like. The wing beats are deep and
slow, but the butterfly is capable of moving rapidly if
disturbed. It normally settles with the wings closed, and at such
times is extremely difficult to locate.
The butterflies tend to remain
deep in the undergrowth, but emerge at dusk to feed at rotting
palm fruits on the forest floor, or on fluids exuding from
decomposing fungi. They remain stationary for long periods, but
are easily put up, and if disturbed retreat into the undergrowth.
However they are habitual in behaviour, and often return
within a few minutes.
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