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Text and photographs
protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins
2007, and must not be published
in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the
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Butterflies of
the Amazon rainforest
Glittering Sapphire
Lasaia agesilas
LATREILLE, 1809
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Lasaia agesilas,
male, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
There
are 14 members of the genus
Lasaia,
all found exclusively in the neotropics. They are all small species, averaging
about 30mm in wingspan. All are characterised by having highly reflective
metallic wing scales, males having a ground colour of blue, green or grey,
overlaid with a fairly linear pattern of black markings. Females are similar,
but have an earthy brown ground colour.
Lasaia
agesilas is the
commonest and most widespread member of the genus, found from Mexico to Peru and
Paraguay. The males are a beautiful glittering sapphire blue, and variation in
the colour or markings is virtually non-existent.
Habitats
This species is found in a wide variety of rainforest and cloudforest habitats,
from sea level to an altitude of about 1500m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The females are rarely seen, but males are commonly encountered in one's and two's when imbibing mineral-rich moisture from sandbanks, peccary wallows, salt-licks or sunlit forest tracks. They are highly active in sunny weather, with a very rapid flight close to the ground, and tend to flit constantly from spot to spot.
They are also attracted to flowers, and to human sweat, and I have found that when trying to photograph them they have a frustrating habit of flying up and landing on my head !
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation. Website designed, produced and owned by Adrian Hoskins |