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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Arene Sailor
Dynamine arene
HÜBNER, 1823
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EUBAGINI
subtribe -
EUBAGINA
Dynamine arene, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
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
have bluish or greenish uppersides, and white undersides attractively marked
with narrow brown bands, and in some species with conspicuous ocelli and small
patches of metallic blue scales.
The greatest diversity of
species is found in the Amazon basin, but the distribution of the genus ranges
from Mexico to Bolivia.
Dynamine arene
occurs
in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
Dynamine arene, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
Habitats
This species is found in primary and disturbed rainforest at altitudes between
about 200-1000m.
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 to imbibe moisture.
Both sexes also
bask on low foliage, with wings half open. They rarely spread the
wings flat - the photographs depicting outspread wings on this
page were taken as the butterfly constantly fanned its wings while
walking about on a riverbed.
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