Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Virgilia Wood Nymph
Taygetis virgilia
CRAMER, 1776
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
subtribe -
EUPTYCHIINA
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Taygetis
virgilia, Ecuador
( image © Tony
Hoare )
Introduction
There
are 28 known species in the
genus Taygetis, though several more are likely to be
discovered. The butterflies vary in wingspan between about 5 - 11 cms. They are
dull brown in colour, and cryptically patterned on the underside so
that they resemble dead leaves, complete with "mould" markings and dark lines
that break up the shape of the wings.
All Taygetis
species produce dry season and wet season forms which differ slightly in
appearance. In general the dry season forms tend to be paler, and have a
slightly more exaggerated wing shape. There is also a considerable amount of
geographical variation in the colour and contrast of the wing markings, although
the ocelli, submarginal wavy line, and the black spots in the discal cells seem
to be consistent in all races.
Taygetis
virgilia is found
throughout much of the neotropics from Honduras to Bolivia.
Habitats
This species breeds in wet tropical rainforests at altitudes between
about 200-1600m.
Lifecycle
Little is known of the early stages of
Taygetis
species. The larvae are typically Satyrine in appearance, with smooth bodies
marked with thin longitudinal lines, a pair of caudal prongs, and a forked head
capsule. They feed solitarily on grasses, bamboos, and possibly also on sedges,
palms and other monocotyledons.
Adult behaviour
Taygetis virgilia
is a denizen of the dark understorey of the rainforest, active in the
early mornings, and again at dusk. It only flies very
short distances, rarely more than 2 metres at a time, and never more than a metre above ground level.
Both sexes visit rotting fruits, fungi and bird-droppings on the
forest floor, where they remain stationary for long periods.
During the heat of the day they hide away in dark damp places -
typically amongst the tangle of rootlets and buttresses at the
base of trees.
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