Moths of the Amazon
and Andes
Saffron Playboy
Xanthiris flaveolata
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - GEOMETRIDAE
subfamily -
STERRHINAE
Tribe -
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
|
 |
|
Xanthiris flaveolata,
Rio Madre de Dios, Peru |
Introduction
The
bright yellow and black colour theme is common amongst day-flying moths in the
neotropics, and is almost certainly aposematic, i.e. either the moth is toxic to
birds or it is mimicking another toxic species and gaining immunity from attack.
The genus Xanthiris
comprises several similar species including flaveolata, supergressa,
involuta,
superba,
elegans,
ops
and
marginata,
which differ in the width of their outer wing borders, and in the shape of the
black costal band.
Xanthiris flaveolata
has a wide distribution in the neotropical lowlands, occuring from Guyana to
Bolivia.
|
 |
|
Xanthiris flaveolata,
Rio Madre de Dios, Peru |
Habitats
Lowland rainforest.
This
species has a wide distribution in the southern Amazon. I've seen it commonly at
Rio Cristalino in Brazil, and along the Rio Madre de Dios in Peru.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The adults are day flying, and often gather in three's and four's
to imbibe mineralised moisture from wet sand along the banks of
rivers.
|
