Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Molochina Underleaf
Eurybia molochina
STICHEL, 1910
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - EURYBIINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Eurybia species, probably
molochina, Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
Eurybia
Underleafs are a fascinating group of about 20 species, which occur from
Nicaragua to southern Peru and Bolivia. Many are extremely similar
in appearance and difficult to identify with any degree of certainty without
resorting to dissection. It is possible therefore that the illustrated species may have been
misidentified.
The
underside pattern is repeated on the upperside, but the ground colour of the
upper surface is darker, often has an iridescent bluish or purplish sheen, and
the white spots and yellow-ringed blue ocelli stand out in much greater
contrast.
Habitats
This species, and others of the genus, occur in primary rainforest at elevations
between sea level and about 1000m. They are never seen in open sunlit areas,
instead preferring the darkness of the forest understorey.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are very secretive by nature, spending very long
periods resting under the leaves of low growing vegetation, always
with wings spread open, cheekily peering
out to play peek-a-boo with only their eyes and antennae visible
to observant passers by.
They are extremely wary and have excellent eyesight. They can
detect the tiniest movement, and instantly dash out at high
speed to investigate any passing butterfly, then almost
instantaneously return to resettle under the same leaf, or one
very nearby. The degree of agility apparent when they
fly into the vegetation, flip upside-down and settle under a leaf
is quite amazing to behold.
I
have never observed any form of prenuptial ritual in
Eurybia species, and assume that
courtship is extremely swift and leads to almost instant
copulation. I have on occasions found copulated pairs of
Eurybia ( and related
Mesosemia ) at rest beneath low
foliage with wings outspread.
All
Eurybia species have extremely
long proboscises ( tongues ) which enable them to
reach nectar deep in the orange flowers of
Heliconia plants. The easiest way to observe the
butterfly is to find an isolated
Heliconia in the forest and watch from a discrete
distance early in the morning, to wait the inevitable arrival of the butterfly.
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