Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Gisella Sailor
Dynamine gisella
HEWITSON, 1857
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EUBAGINI
subtribe -
EUBAGINA
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Dynamine gisella, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
Biblidinae are recognised by their diverse but simple and very colourful
patterns. There are a large number of neotropical genera including
Callicore, Diaethria,
Marpesia, Perisama,
Hamadryas and 40 species of
Dynamine.
Most
Dynamine species
have metallic bluish or greenish uppersides. The apex is usually blackish, and
marked with white spots. The undersides are white, and in most species are
marked with a series of orange or reddish-brown. Many species including
gisella also have 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
gisella
occurs
from Colombia to Peru.
Dynamine gisella, Rio
Pindayo, Peru
Habitats
This species is found in primary rainforest at altitudes between about 200-800
metres.
Lifecycle
The eggs of most
Dynamine
species are white, and 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.
Dynamine gisella, Rio
Pindayo, Peru
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are only active in hot sunny conditions, and can be
seen flying rapidly in zigzag fashion along sunny tracks in the
mornings. During the afternoon the 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, but tend to constantly fan their wings while walking
about on the ground.
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