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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Croesus Eyemark
Semomesia croesus
FABRICIUS,
1776
Family -
RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - MESOSEMIINI
subtribe -
MESOSEMIINA
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Semomesia croesus,
female at rest under leaf, Rio Madre de Dios, Peru.
Introduction
There
are 1324 known species of Riodinidae in the neotropical region, 121 of which are
placed in the genus
Mesosemia,
and a further 8 in the closely related
Semomesia.
Butterflies of both genera are commonly known as Eyemarks, due to the prominent
ocelli located in the discal cell of the forewings.
All species are sexually
dimorphic - the males of many species including
Semomesia croesus
being metallic blue, marked with fine
black lines and a black apex. The females of
croesus
and most other
Semomesia
/
Mesosemia
species, are dark brown, marked with prominent white bands.
Semomesia
croesus
is found throughout the Amazonian region.
Habitats
This species is found in primary rainforest at
altitudes between about 100-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Males tend to be seen in two's
and three's along dark forest tracks. They tend to spend a large
amount of time resting with wings half-open or outspread
underneath the leaves of low growing bushes. They are readily
disturbed, but even when alarmed they tend to fly only short
distances and immediately resettle under another nearby leaf.
Females are seen
much more rarely, usually when flitting about just above the herb
layer in search of oviposition sites.
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