Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Gaudy Altinote
Altinote negra sobrina
JORDAN, 1910
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
HELICONIINAE
Tribe - ACRAEINI
Altinote negra,
San Pedro, Madre de Dios, Peru
Introduction
The
tribe Acraeini is primarily African - there are for example 83 species in Kenya,
and about 200 in the whole African continent. There are also a few species in
Asia, and an estimated 55 in the whole of the neotropical region.
In
the neotropics the tribe is represented by 3 genera, most members of which have
a pattern of red or orange-yellow bands on the forewings. The genus Actinote
comprises of thinly scaled species whose wings have a translucent and shiny
appearance. The other 2 genera
Abananote and Altinote,
are heavily scaled and boldly marked.
Altinote
have velvety black wings, banded with bright red, orange or yellow. They are
toxic models which form part of a complex Batesian / Mullerian mimicry ring
involving Heliconius,
Gnathotriche, Eresia,
Castalia and various Ithomiine genera. Altinote
characteristics which in combination make it possible to distinguish them from
other genera include short straight antennae with flattened clubs, and closed
cells on the hindwings. The latter can most easily be seen from the underside.
There are 17 known Altinote species,
most of which are confined to the cloudforests of the Andes, although the range
of 2 species extends north into Mexico.
Altinote
negra is a common species, found in
Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Altinote negra,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This species occurs in rainforest and cloudforest habitats at altitudes between about
600-1800m.
Altinote negra,
Satipo, Peru
Lifecycle
I have no information
specific to
negra
but the following generalisations are applicable to the genus Altinote
: The eggs are yellowish and barrel-shaped. They are laid in batches of between
50-100 on the foodplants which according to species include
Eupatorium, Vernonia, Mikania
( Asteraceae ) and Boehmeria,
Mikania
( Urticaceae).
The caterpillars
are typically dull greenish or brownish in colour. They are adorned on the back
and sides with rows of short branched blackish spikes which in some species have
mildly urticating properties. They live gregariously until the final instar. The
pupae are whitish or pale yellow, marked with black spots or lines on the
wing-pads and short black spikes on the abdomen. They are suspended from stems
or foliage.
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies have a slow conspicuous flight pattern as if
advertising their toxic qualities to birds. Males commonly bask on unsurfaced roads, where they imbibe dissolved
minerals from the damp ground. They are usually found singly or in
low numbers.
Altinote negra,
Satipo, Peru
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