Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Tiger with Tails
Consul fabius
CRAMER, 1776
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
CHARAXINAE
Tribe - ANAEINI
Consul fabius,
Satipo, Peru
Introduction
There
are 4 species in the genus
Consul,
of which
fabius
is the commonest, most widespread and well known. It's angular
forewings, spatulate-tailed hindwings and bright orange and black pattern make it
instantly recognisable when basking.
The Tiger-with-Tails is a member
of the "tiger-complex", a large group of orange and
black species which includes members from the Ithomiinae,
Danainae, Heliconiinae, Dismorphiinae,
Papilioninae,
Pierinae, Charaxinae, Biblidinae, Nymphalinae, Acraeinae and
Riodinidae, together with a number of moths from the Arctiidae, Geometridae and
Castniidae.
Some of the commoner species are known to be toxic or
distasteful to birds, usually as a result of accumulating
toxins from the larval foodplants. The Müllerian mimicry
theory postulates that these toxic species have evolved a
common pattern as a means of defence - a bird which has
tasted one or two of them soon learns to avoid eating other
similar looking species. Another form of mimicry involves
butterflies which are palatable to birds, but which mimic
toxic species and thereby "fool" birds into thinking they
are noxious. These edible species are known as
Batesian mimics.
Species which are noxious to birds generally have bright
aposematic warning colours on both wing surfaces, although
the colours on the underside are usually less bright. On the
other hand species that are palatable tend to rely on
camouflage to protect them when they are at rest. These
species typically have underside patterns that simulate dead
leaves. In the case of Consul fabius
the dead-leaf appearance is enhanced by the marbled pattern
and jagged wing shape.
Consul fabius
occurs from Mexico to Bolivia.
Consul fabius,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
The habitats of this species are diverse, and include deciduous forest,
rainforest and cloudforest, at elevations between sea level and about
1200m. It can be found along forest edges and wide sunny forest tracks, and along the banks of rivers and lagoons.
Consul fabius,
Satipo, Peru
Lifecycle
The pale green, rounded
eggs are laid singly on the leaves of Piper ( Piperaceae
).
The larva when fully grown is smooth skinned and dark green, stained with
reddish along the back, and with yellow spiracles. It's head is black with yellow
stripes and is adorned with 2 knob-like horns. It spends its life within a rolled up leaf, emerging only
for brief spells to feed. The
chrysalis is smooth and green, with a black cremaster. The abdominal segments
are compacted and strongly tapered.
Adult behaviour
The males
spend much of their time in the forest canopy and can most easily
be observed from the vantage point of a canopy tower or
observation platform. In the mornings they often bask for long
periods on foliage, with their wings held half open, at heights between 5-15m
above ground level.
Males visit dung and urine from
which they sequester minerals that they pass to females in the
spermatophore during copulation. Both sexes feed at rotting fruit
on the forest floor.
Females descend to the
understorey at about noon
to oviposit. They can sometimes be seen settled on low foliage with
their wings closed. Periodically they circle around, and then
flit about among low foliage in light gaps, looking for oviposition
sites.
Both sexes have a slow gliding flight, but are capable of flying
very rapidly if alarmed.
Consul fabius,
Satipo, Peru
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