Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Primrose Flag
Melete lycimnia
CRAMER, 1777
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
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Melete lycimnia lycimnia male,
Satipo, Peru |
Introduction
The
Pieridae is divided into 3 subfamilies. The Dismorphiinae, with a small
number of exceptions is entirely neotropical in distribution. The Coliadinae (
Sulphurs and Yellows ) and Pierinae ( Whites and Orange tips ) however have
worldwide distribution.
There are 217 members of
the Pierinae in the neotropical region. These include familiar Holarctic
(
Eurasian and North American ) genera such as Pieris, Pontia
and Anthocharis,
and others such as
Pereute, Catasticta
and Melete
which are found only in Central and South America.
The
genus Melete
contains 6 species, characterised by having a black bar at the end of the
forewing discal cell, a black fw apex, and in most species a dark border to the
hind-wings. Apart from these markings the wings are usually a unicolorous yellow
or white.
Melete
lycimnia occurs in
several geographical forms. On the underside, subspecies
peruviana
has a white ground colour, narrow black borders, and a yellow spot at the
base of the hindwings. At the other extreme the nominate subspecies lycimnia
has the underside hindwings primrose yellow, with wide brown borders. In all
subspecies the females are more yellowish in colouration than the males.
This
species occurs from Texas to Bolivia.
Melete lycimnia lycimnia male, Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This is a lowland rainforest species, occurring at elevations between sea level
and about 800m.
Lifecycle
Unknown, although the
foodplant is reputed to be Loranthaceae.
Adult behaviour
Males are a regular sight along
forest edge habitats on the banks of rivers, and at roadsides,
where they gather to imbibe mineral-laden moisture from sand or
mud. They often congregate in dense clusters of 50 or more
butterflies, packed very tightly together, which erupt nervously into flight if disturbed.
Females are not
normally seen in such open situations, staying instead in
the forest interior. They do not visit flowers in the understorey,
or along forest roads, so presumably feed at the nectar of
arboreal flowers. Their flight is direct and fairly rapid,
interrupted by long periods at rest on foliage in the sub canopy.
Melete lycimnia peruviana male, Rio
Madre de Dios, Peru
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