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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Regal Metalmark
Metacharis regalis
BUTLER, 1867
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Metacharis regalis, male, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
Introduction
There
are 8 species in the genus Metacharis, all of which
are confined to the neotropical region.
All Metacharis species are sexually dimorphic, i.e.
the males and females differ in colour and pattern.
In the case of regalis the female is orange-brown
with a prominent suffused yellowish area near the apex of the forewings. The
wings are marked with a pattern of blackish squiggles, and have a series of
metallic silver dashes and black dots around the margins. The males have a
similar ground colour and pattern but lack the pale sub-apical areas. Instead
the entire wing surface, with the exception of the area between the veins at the
apex, is overlaid with a beautiful deep blue metallic sheen.
Metacharis
regalis occurs from Colombia and Venezuela, south across Amazonia and the
eastern Andes to Peru and Bolivia.
Habitats
This species is restricted to primary rainforest at altitudes between sea level
and about 800m.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are usually encountered singly in light gaps. They
bask for long periods on foliage at heights between about 1-4
metres. If disturbed they usually only fly a short distance, but
often settle above head height so are difficult to observe.
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