Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Rosy Euselasia
Euselasia gelanor
STOLL, 1780
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
EUSELASIINAE
Tribe - EUSELASIINI
Euselasia
gelanor, Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru
Introduction
The
sub-family Euselasiinae is confined entirely to the neotropics. There
are 172 known species of which 167 are placed in the genus
Euselasia. A few are widespread
across Amazonia but most are localised and uncommon. The adults are
characterised by having large eyes and small palpi. Most species have rounded
wings. The uppersides of males are blackish with patches of metallic orange or
blue according to species. Females are dull brown above, with patches of whitish
or pale brown.
The undersides are variable - in
some species such as
gelanor,
angulata
and
brevicauda
they are pinkish or dull brown, marked with a thin dark median
line. Others e.g.
teleclus
and
praeclara
are silvery white, marked with feint dark spots. Another group
including
euriteus,
toppini
and
orfita
are much more strongly marked, with broad white bands on a brown
or orange ground colour. Most of the species in this latter group also have a prominent
dark spot or ocellus on the outer hindwing.
Euselasia
gelanor is found
in Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru and
Bolivia.
Habitats
In common with most other
Euselasia
species this butterfly inhabits lowland primary rainforests at elevations
between about 200-800m.
Lifecycle
I have no
information regarding gelanor. The lifecycle
however is probably similar to that of other Euselasia
species : The eggs are frustum-shaped. They are laid singly under leaves of
Clusiaceae, Melastomataceae, Sapotaceae or Myrtaceae. The
caterpillars are compact in form and covered in
tufts of short setae. In several species they are gregarious and move
in a processionary manner. Unlike members of the Riodininae the larvae of
Euselasiinae are not associated with ants.
Adult behaviour
Euselasia
males are noted for their habit of spending most of their lives hiding under
leaves. Some species such as gelanor
and angulata
tend to sit under the leaves of low vegetation, while others such as euriteus
and clithra
tend to settle higher up, under the leaves of trees at heights of between 2-5 metres.
Often males of several Euselasia species will
occupy a particular tree but each species will settle at a different height and
fly at a different time of the morning.
Although they may
appear to be hiding, they are in fact "perching" i.e. waiting to ambush any
other Euselasia that flies past. If the ambushed
butterfly turns out to be another male a short aerial battle takes place after
which the intruding male is usually ousted, and the conquering male returns to
sit beneath the leaf where he originally perched. Perching males hold their
wings erect, but often with the hindwings very slightly apart, enabling a
glimpse of the metallic upperside.
The flight is
rapid and erratic. Males are active early in the day, but females fly and
oviposit in the afternoon. Both sexes visit flowers and extrafloral nectaries.
The butterflies fly throughout the year but are commonest in the late dry season
and during drier periods in the rainy season.
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