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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Cuvier's
Purplewing
Eunica cuvierii
GODART, 1819
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EPICALIINI
subtribe -
EPICALIINA
Eunica
cuvierii, male, Caranavi, Yungas, Bolivia
© Lars Andersen
Introduction
The
genus
Eunica
contains 40 species colloquially known as Purplewings due to the dazzling purple
or metallic blue iridescence on the uppersides of the males. Females lack the
iridescence, and are typically a dull earthy brown colour with a diagonal white
band across the forewings. The underside hindwings of most species are
beautifully marbled, and bear a
distinctive arrangement of ocelli.
Eunica
cuvierii
is unusual because it has very long labial palpi, a fact which led early
entomologists to mistakenly consider it to be one of the Libytheinae "Snout"
butterflies. The differences between cuvierii and
the majority of other Eunica species are quite
significant, and it seems inevitable that this species will ultimately be
reclassified under a new genus or subgenus.
Eunica
cuvierii is found in southern Brazil and Bolivia.
Habitats
This species inhabits primary rainforest and transitional cloudforest at elevations
from
400-1400m.
Lifecycle
The lifecycle of Eunica
species in general is poorly known and I can find no published details of the early stages
of this species. The eggs of most Eunica
species are laid singly on the flowers and leaf buds of trees including Mabea
( Euphorbiaceae ) and
Bursera ( Burseraceea ). The larvae are
likely to vary considerably in colouration and pattern from species to species,
but generally have short spines along the sides, and a single row of longer
erect spines on the last 3 segments of the body.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are considered rare. Males are usually seen singly
when imbibing mineralised moisture from road surfaces, forest
tracks or river sandbanks.
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