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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Mabille's
Sabre-wing
Jemadia menechmus
MABILLE,
1878
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRRHOPYGINAE
tribe - PYRRHOPYGINI
Jemadia menechmus,
Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
subfamily Pyrrhopyginae comprises 163 species, most of which are confined to the
Neotropics, although a few occur in Mexico, and a
single species
Apyrrothrix arizonae
reaches Arizona.
The Pyrrhopyginae are characterised by having a massive muscular thorax
and a conical abdomen with compressed segments. The wings of most species
are black, often with a metallic blue sheen, and are swept back, half covering
the hindwings when the butterflies settle.
Several genera, including
Jemadia and Elbella
have a pattern of hyaline "windows" on the forewings, and are marked with
stripes and bands of metallic blue and white. Most of the
10 Jemadia and 22 Elbella
species are very similar, but the shape and configuration of the
hyaline windows and blue streaks is slightly different in each species.
Jemadia
menechmus
occurs in the upper Amazonian regions of Brazil and Peru.
Habitats
This species appears to be restricted to primary rainforest at altitudes between
about 200-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are strongly associated with riparian habitats, and
rarely seen away from rivers or waterfalls.
Males can
be found either singly or aggregating with other
Jemadia
species in groups of 3 or 4, imbibing mineralised moisture on
sandbanks. They tend to settle very close to the river's edge,
often in shaded or semi-shaded spots, typically half hidden in the
shade of logs on the shore of shallow beaches.
Once settled and feeding they
are very reluctant to move, and seem oblivious of human presence.
Although they seem very lethargic, they are capable of taking to
the air with incredible speed, flying in short rapid bursts,
circling and weaving around tree tops so quickly that it is
impossible to follow them by eye.
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