Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Blue Doctor
Rhetus periander
CRAMER, 1777
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Rhetus
periander, Pantiacolla, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
This common yet very elusive jewel
of the rainforest is distributed throughout most of the
neotropical region from Costa Rica, south to Peru and Argentina.
It is one of three species in the genus Rhetus,
the others being dysonii
and arcius.
Rhetus
periander, Satipo, Peru
Habitats
Rhetus periander
is usually found singly or sometimes in two's and three's, in glades, along wide tracks, or on disturbed forested
areas around habitations in
rainforest and cloudforest. It occurs at elevations between sea level and about 1700m.
Rhetus
periander, Satipo, Peru
Lifecycle
No information available.
Rhetus
periander, Satipo, Peru
Adult behaviour
This
species has
a very rapid and erratic flight, but males often settle to imbibe
at wet mud. After first settling they are very skittish and take
flight instantly if disturbed, but after a few minutes they
overcomes their nervousness and will sometimes remain in one spot
for several minutes. Males are attracted mainly by mineral salts,
but will also visit carrion - I once observed one feeding on the
juices of a dead tarantula in Venezuela !
Females are sometimes attracted to
Eupatorium
flowers, but do not appear to visit other plants for nectar.
Between bouts of feeding the butterflies usually settle on the
foliage of bushes to bask. It is likely that males use such places as vantage points
from which to observe and intercept passing females.
Rhetus
periander, male, Satipo, Peru
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