Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Bell's Paradise
Skipper
Phocides metrodorus BELL, 1932
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe - EUDAMINI
Phocides metrodorus, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
Skippers in the genus Phocides
bear a remarkable resemblance
to their distant cousins
Jemadia,
Tarsoctenus
and
Elbella,
all of which are members of a different subfamily, the Pyrrhopyginae. This may
indicate that the butterflies are involved in a mimicry complex, as it is
difficult to see why two very similar patterns could otherwise have evolved.
Most Pyrrhopyginae, e.g.
Pyrrhopyge
and
Yanguna
exhibit aposematic colouration, implying that the subfamily are generally unpalateable or toxic to
birds, so it seems likely that Phocides are
Batesian
mimics, and that Jemadia,
Tarsoctenus and Elbella are Mullerian
mimics.
The
easiest way to distinguish
Phocides
from the others is to look at the metallic turquoise-white stripes in the basal
area of the forewings. These radiate from the base in
Phocides
but are vertical in the Pyrrhopygine genera.
Phocides metrodorus, Rio Shima,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This species is found in tropical and subtropical forest at altitudes between
0-900m.
Lifecycle
The eggs are reportedly
laid singly on the upperside of leaves of the foodplants. Phocides species
are known to feed on Psidium and
Eugenia ( Myrtaceae ). They are nocturnal feeders,
and rest by day in nests constructed from silk and folded leaves.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are normally found as solitary males imbibing
mineralised water from wet ground at the edge of small streams.
They are usually very easy to approach.
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