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Text and photographs
protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins
2007, and must not be published
in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the
author.
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Butterflies of
the Andes
Thessalia Sister
Adelpha thessalia
FELDER & FELDER, 1867
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - LIMENITIDINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian
Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part
or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from
Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
Website designed, produced and owned by
Adrian Hoskins
Introduction
Butterflies of the genus
Adelpha
can sometimes be difficult
to identify, as many species have a similar pattern of orange and white bands on
a dark brown ground colour. The individual species are best identified by
examining
the configuration of the orange spots in the subapical area of the forewing. In
most cases it is also essential to examine the patterning on the undersides, by
which means otherwise very similar species can be distinguished.
There are 84 known species of
Adelpha,
a genus confined to Central and South America, with the exception of one species
which occurs as far north as California.
Adelpha
thessalia occurs in
the southern Amazon and eastern Andes, in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and
northern Argentina.
Habitats
This is a species of pre-montane cloudforest and rainforest habitats, where it
occurs at elevations of between about 200-1700m.
Lifecycle
Unknown,
but the following generalisations are applicable to the genus
Adelpha
:
The larval foodplants of
Adelpha
species are diverse, although the majority of
species feed on Rubiaceae, Moraceae, Urticaceae or Ulmaceae.
The
eggs of most species are white or pale green, and laid singly on the foliage of
the foodplants.
The
larvae, which are cryptically coloured, have 2 rows of conspicuous spines along
the back, with those on the first two segments enlarged and directed forward,
while the third pair are directed backward.
The
pupae, which are suspended by the cremaster, are in some species green or brown,
while others are entirely silver, and shiny. The pupae of some species are
decorated with numerous spikes and projections, and sometimes have very
prominent palpi.
Adult behaviour
Males are usually encountered singly or in two's or three's. They often visit damp ground or rocks to imbibe mineral rich water.
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