Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Möschler's Ruby-eye
Moeros moeros
MÖSCHLER, 1877
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
HESPERIINAE
Tribe -
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Moeros moeros,
Pantiacolla, Rio Alto Madre de Dios, 550m, Peru |
Introduction
The genus Moeros
comprises of a single species which is found from Surinam and
Trinidad south to Peru and Bolivia. The specimen illustrated is
faded and worn - fresh adults have a dark chocolate ground colour, with a
deep turquoise-blue lustre on the underside.
The deep ruby red eyes are a feature found in several other genera including -
Perichares,
Synale,
Carystoides, Dion,
Lycas, Orphe,
Orses,
Carystus, Talides,
Telles, Tellona,
Tisias and Tromba.
Most of these genera are crepuscular in behaviour. The redness of the eyes is due to an
unusual eye structure that increases the effectiveness of vision in poor light.
Note : Moeros
is an entirely different genus to the confusingly named
Moeris. The latter are also grass-feeding ( Hesperiine ) skippers, but
are smaller, darker and do not have ruby eyes.
Habitats
This species was photographed at an altitude of about 550m in disturbed primary rainforest
on the Rio Alto Madre de Dios, Peru. It probably occurs at altitudes between sea
level and about 1000m.
Lifecycle
Unknown, but the larvae almost certainly feed on grasses (
Poaceae ).
Adult behaviour
At dawn the
butterflies can be seen in glades, gardens and along riverbanks in
disturbed forest habitats, darting rapidly from flower to flower,
probing deep into the calyx of each, and often returning to the
same flower several times. They are not usually seen again until
just before dusk, when males feed at bird droppings on leaves or
on the forest floor.
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