Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Hewitson's Sailor
Dynamine sosthenes
HEWITSON, 1869
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EUBAGINI
subtribe -
EUBAGINA
Dynamine sosthenes,
Satipo, 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
Dynamine species
have metallic bluish or greenish uppersides, with a dark
apex, and a series of white spots. Some species however are white, with black
markings. The undersides of most species are white, attractively marked with
narrow bands of orange - and in some species also 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
sosthenes
is one of the
most widespread species, being found from Nicaragua to Peru.
Habitats
This species is found in forested areas at altitudes between
sea level and about 1000 m.
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, roadside ditches and damp ground along sunlit
forest tracks.
The wings are normally
held erect when feeding, but
they periodically flick them open and shut as they flit about from spot to
spot on the ground, probing for mineral-rich moisture.
In
cooler conditions both sexes also
bask on low foliage, with wings half open.
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