Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Amber Phantom
Haetera piera
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - HAETERINI
Haetera piera,
Rio Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil
© Tony Hoare
Introduction
The tribe Haeterini is confined
exclusively to the neotropical region. All members of this tribe
are elusive crepuscular butterflies which spend their lives
skulking deep in the undergrowth. There are 5 genera - Pierella,
Pseudohaetera,
Cithaerias,
Dulcedo and
Haetera. All butterflies in the latter 4 genera have
rounded transparent wings, with small ocelli at the apex of the
hindwings.
The
genus Haetera comprises of 2 species -
macleannania and piera.
Both are extremely similar, but macleannania
has a reddish flush on the hindwings, while in piera
this is amber in colour.
Haetera macleannania is found from Costa Rica to
Colombia, and is replaced further south by piera
which is found in Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Haetera piera,
wing detail
© Tony Hoare
Habitats
This species, in common with all members of the Haeterini, is found only in
deeply shaded areas of rainforest. It occurs at altitudes between sea
level and about 1500m.
Haetera piera,
Rio Shima, Satipo, Peru
Lifecycle
Nothing is known of the
lifecycle or foodplants of
Haetera
species. However it is possible to make some educated guesses. The larvae of
almost all
Satyrine butterflies feed on monocotyledons
( grasses, palms, bamboos, sedges,
rushes etc ). Adult Haetera in my experience are
found mostly in the vicinity of bamboos. The larvae are
likely to be similar to those of other Satyrines, namely slim, cylindrical, dull
greenish or brownish in colour, with thin longitudinal stripes along the back
and sides, devoid of setae or tubercles, and possessing caudal prongs, and a
pair of knob-like projections on the head.
Adult behaviour
The adults are usually encountered in one's and two's. They are denizens of the
darkest and dampest recesses of the rainforest, and appear to be
very localised. The butterflies are crepuscular in nature - they
can sometimes be found in the middle of the day, but are far more
often encountered at dusk than at any other time.
The butterflies tend to remain
deep in the undergrowth, but emerge at dusk to feed at rotting
palm fruits on the forest floor, or on fluids exuding from
decomposing fungi. They remain stationary for long periods, but
are easily put up, and if disturbed retreat into the undergrowth.
Haetera piera,
Rio Shima, Satipo, Peru
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