Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Dainty White
Sailor
Dynamine agacles
DALMAN, 1823
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EUBAGINI
subtribe -
EUBAGINA
Dynamine agacles,
Peru © Tony
Hoare
Introduction
The
Biblidinae are known for their diverse but simple and colourful
patterns. In the neotropics their representatives include the subtribe Eubagina,
within which are
placed the 40
Dynamine
species.
Most
Dynamine species
have metallic bluish or greenish uppersides, with a dark
apex and a series of white spots. The upperside of agacles,
myrrhina, coenus,
theseus, anubis,
ate, athemon and one
or two others however are white with dark borders and only a trace of blue
around the basal area.
The greatest diversity of
Dynamine species is found in the Amazon basin, but the distribution of the genus ranges
from Mexico to Bolivia.
Dynamine
agacles
is distributed from Panama to Argentina.
Habitats
This species is found in lowland rainforest at altitudes between
about 100-800m.
Lifecycle
The eggs of most
Dynamine
species are white. They are laid singly on the leaf axils or flower buds of
Euphorbiaceae genera such as
Tragia
and
Dalechampia.
The larvae are
described by DeVries as being slug-like, with tiny rosettes of
spines on the back. The pupae are greenish, elongate, with a
slightly bifid head and a pronounced dorsal keel, and suspended by
the cremaster from stems or leaves.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are only active in hot sunny conditions, when they can be
seen flying rapidly in zig-zag fashion along sunny tracks in the
mornings. During the afternoon males visit dry river beds,
well vegetated rocky river beaches and damp ground along sunlit
forest tracks and roads.
The wings are normally kept closed, but
they periodically fan them as they flit about from spot to
spot on the ground, probing for mineral-rich moisture.
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