Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Stichel's Blue Emesis
Emesis orichalceus
STICHEL, 1916
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe -
Incertae sedis
Emesis orichalceus, male, Satipo,
Peru
Introduction
There
are 41 described species in the genus Emesis, most
of which are brownish in colour, marked with a pattern of short wavy lines.
Some species can be difficult to tell apart, but
orichalceus is one of the more distinctive and easily identified species,
whose dull metallic blue-green wings are ornamented with glistening silver markings.
The
butterfly is fairly uncommon, and appears to be restricted to the eastern Andes
of Peru and Bolivia, and the Mato Grosso region of Brazil.
Habitats
This species is found in primary rainforest and transitional cloudforest
habitats, at altitudes between about 400-1000m.
Lifecycle
I have no
information specific to orichalceus. The eggs of
Emesis species are typically white and highly
sculptured. They are laid singly or in clusters of up to 30, according to
species. The known larval foodplants encompass the families Ranunculaceae,
Euphorbiaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Sterculiaceae, Anacardiaceae and Nyctaginaceae.
Adult behaviour
Males are usually encountered
singly, imbibing
moisture from damp sand. They only appear to be active in hot
sunny conditions, and even then are decidedly placid and sedentary
in behaviour.
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