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Butterflies of the Amazon and Andes
 
Molochina Underleaf
Eurybia molochina  STICHEL, 1910
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily - RIODININAE
Tribe - EURYBIINI
 
 introduction | 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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