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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Blue False Flasher
Neoxeniades bajula
SCHAUS, 1902
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
HESPERIINAE
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Neoxeniades bajula,
Rio Alto Madre de Dios, Peru.
Introduction
In the neotropical region there are 2365 known species of
Hesperiidae. The family comprises 5 sub-families - Pyrrhopyginae ( 163 sp
), Pyrginae ( 991 sp ), Heteropterinae ( 139 sp ), Megathyminae
( 32 sp ) and Hesperiinae ( 1040 sp ).
The
Hesperiinae are known generally as Grass Skippers, because their larvae feed on
grasses, bamboos and other monocotyledons.
Hesperiines typically bask with their forewings held at an angle of about 45
degrees, and their hindwings held flat, as illustrated below.
This helps to distinguish Thracides and
Neoxeniades
from the similarly patterned Astraptes
Flashers which belong to the Pyrginae, and like other Pyrgines normally bask
with their wings fully outspread and flattened against the substrate.
There are 10 species in the genus Neoxeniades,
which is confined to the neotropical region.
Neoxeniades bajula
occurs in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This is a rainforest species, found at altitudes between about 100-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The adults can be seen
basking on foliage at forest edge habitats early on sunny mornings. Later in the
day they feed at bird droppings on leaves or on the forest floor.
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