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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Hirlanda White
Cunizza hirlanda
STOLL, 1790
Family -
PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
tribe - ANTHOCHARIDINI
Cunizza hirlanda ninguida, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
In the
neotropical region there are a total of 192 representatives of the subfamily
Pierinae.
There are
5 genera within the tribe Anthocharidini which occur in the neotropics -
Mathania and Eroessa
being found only in the Andes, while Euchloe and
Anthocharis also have many members in the Holarctic
region, including the Dappled Whites and Orange tips of Europe.
The
remaining genus, Cunizza,
comprises of a single species - hirlanda, which has
9 recognised subspecies, found variously in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru,
Brazil and Bolivia. Subspecies ninguida is confined
to Peru.
Habitats
This
species is found in the forested foothills of the eastern
Andes, and the lowlands of the upper Amazon basin, at altitudes between about
400-1000m.
Lifecycle
To be
completed.
Adult behaviour
The
male is usually encountered singly in the vicinity of streams and
waterfalls. In common with the males of many other butterflies of all families,
they obtain their sustenance by imbibing mineralised moisture, rather than from
nectar. The female is seen less often, usually when visiting flowers, or flying
in search of egg-laying sites.
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