Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Sombre Emesis
Emesis temesa
HEWITSON, 1870
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe -
Incertae sedis
Emesis temesa peruviana, male, Satipo,
Peru
Introduction
There
are 41 species in the genus Emesis, all confined to
the neotropical region. Most are brownish in colour, marked with a pattern of short wavy lines.
Several of the species can be quite difficult to tell apart,
requiring close examination
of the markings.
Emesis temesa is a common species in Peru, Brazil
and Ecuador, but is often overlooked due to it's small size and sombre
colouring.
Habitats
This species is found in primary rainforest and transitional cloudforest
habitats, at altitudes between about 200-1000m.
Lifecycle
I have no information specific
to temesa. 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, invariably when imbibing
moisture from damp sand, peccary wallows, and sunlit forest tracks. They
are only active in hot
sunny conditions.
Emesis temesa peruviana, male, Satipo,
Peru
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