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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Ruddy Leafwing
Fountainea halice
GODART,
1824
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
CHARAXINAE
Tribe - ANAEINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Fountainea
halice, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
tribe Anaeini comprises of 87 neotropical species in the genera
Coenophlebia,
Consul,
Anaea,
Polygrapha,
Memphis,
Siderone,
Fountainea
and
Zaretis.
The butterflies are characterised by having a very
rapid and strong flight. They have stout bodies, falcate wings, and on the upper
surface are generally black, marked with bands or patches
of orange, bright red, or lustrous blue according to species. The
undersides of all species in the Anaeini are cryptically patterned in mottled
brown tones, and bear a very strong resemblance to dead leaves.
The
genus Fountainea
comprises 8 species distributed throughout the neotropical region.
The upperside of
Fountainea halice
is bright orange-red, with dark markings at the apex.
This
species is found throughout lowland areas from Mexico to Bolivia.
Fountainea
halice, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Habitats
This species breeds in lowland primary and secondary rainforest, and in moist
deciduous forests at altitudes between sea level and about 800m.
Lifecycle
The eggs are white, and
laid singly on the foliage of the foodplants.
The fully grown
caterpillar is green, with paler longitudinal lines along the back, and lightly
marbled with reddish brown and white along the sides. It has a large head that
is adorned with a pair of short horns. The caterpillar lives within a cell made
by rolling up a leaf and securing it with fine silk. It feeds on Croton
- a tree in the Euphorbiaceae.
The
chrysalis is suspended by the cremaster from a stem or leaf. It is pale
greenish, with the wing cases edged with pale yellow. The head and thorax form a
barrel shaped section, and the abdominal segments are highly compressed, forming
a short cone.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are usually seen singly, typically as the sole
Fountainea
species amongst a mixed group of
Memphis,
Doxocopa
and
Taygetis
species that have aggregated to feed at dung or rotting fruit on
the forest floor. Males also visit sewage seepages and damp
sandbanks to imbibe mineralised water.
The flight
and general behaviour is similar to that of other Charaxine
genera. They tend to remain settled either on foliage or on the
ground for quite long periods. If disturbed they fly up, circle
around briefly, and then settle on the foliage of a nearby tree.
After a few minutes, when they feel safe, they descend in a series
of steps, often settling in dappled sunlight, and at such times
they often bask with wings half open. Eventually they return to
ground level, flitting about and fanning their wings for a while
before closing them.
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