Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
"88"
butterfly
Diaethria clymena
CRAMER, 1775
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - CALLICORINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Diaethria clymena peruviana, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The
"89" or "88" numerals which appear on the underside hindwings of this species
are present in all 12 members of the genus
Diaethria,
but vary in thickness and shape according to species. The extent of the red
markings on the underside hindwings, particularly at the point where they meet
the black submarginal lines, is also a useful identification diagnostic.
The
upperside wings are blackish, marked on the forewings with a diagonal band of
metallic blue or green. In some species ( including
clymena
) this colour is repeated on the hindwings in the form of a submarginal band.
Diaethria "number-wing" butterflies, and members of
the closely related genera Paulogramma and
Callicore often frequent human dwellings, and are
considered a sign of good luck by many native communities. In truth the
butterflies are only attracted to such places by the presence of sand or soil
that is tainted with urine or other soluble minerals.
The
genus Diaethria is confined to Central and South
America - 3 species are found in Mexico, while the
remainder are largely Amazonian or Andean.
Habitats
This species occurs at elevations between sea level and about 2000m, in rainforest and
cloud-forest habitats where the larval foodplants
Trema
( Ulmaceae ) grow.
Lifecycle
The eggs, in common with those of other
Diaethria
species, are whitish, and laid singly on the leaves of the foodplant.
The
caterpillar is green, with a slightly roughened texture, and bears a pair of
short spikes on the anal segment. The head bears a pair of very long whorled
spikes which are pointed forward. The caterpillar rests on the upper surface of
a leaf, with the thoracic segments raised, and the head pointing downwards.
The
chrysalis is suspended by the cremaster from a leaf or stem. It is green, with a
dorsal keel, and projecting palpi.
Diaethria clymena peruviana, Catarata Bayoz, Le
Merced, Peru
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are attracted to
rotting fruit. The males are strongly attracted to urine-soaked
sand, and also imbibe dissolved minerals from damp soil, road
surfaces and rock faces. They are very active butterflies, easily
disturbed, and rarely settle for more than a few seconds at a time
in one spot, but they will return repeatedly to the same
patch of ground.
They are usually
seen in two's or three's, but sometimes congregate in large
numbers at favoured spots, e.g. on sandbanks close to jetties, at riverbanks where laundry is washed,
at ash covered ground at the site of campfires, and at ground
soaked with human or cattle urine.
When not feeding,
males will perch on the upper surface of leaves at a height of
about 2-3 metres, awaiting passing females. They also commonly
perch, usually facing head-downwards, on walls or on tree trunks.
Just before sunset, males often bask
with wings almost fully outspread, on the foliage of trees and
bushes, before eventually retiring beneath a leaf where they spend
the night, protected from rain.
Diaethria clymena peruviana, Rio
Tambo, Peru
|
