Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Juno Longwing
Dione juno
CRAMER, 1779
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
HELICONIINAE
Tribe - HELICONIINI
Dione
juno,
Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The Heliconiinae was
until a few years ago recently considered to be a full family equal in rank to the
Nymphalidae, Satyridae, Papilionidae etc. In 1958 Erlich proposed that the
families containing butterflies with only two pairs of legs should all be
classified as subfamilies within the Nymphalidae. This proposition was again
advanced by Ackery in 1984 and has since become accepted by most biologists.
Thus we now have the Libytheinae, Satyrinae,
Nymphalinae,
Limenitidinae, Charaxinae,
Apaturinae, Morphinae,
Biblidinae, Ithomiinae,
Danainae and Heliconiinae.
The higher classification
of the Heliconiinae was revised
by Penz & Peggie
in 2003, being subdivided into the Acraeini, Argynnini
and Heliconiini. The latter are colloquially known as Longwings and
are characterised by their simple patterns, elongated forewings and delicate fluttering flight.
The Heliconiini includes
the genus
Heliconius
( 39 spp ), and the smaller genera Dryas, Dryadula, Eueides, Neruda, Laparus, Philaethria, Podotricha, Agraulis
and Dione.
The latter genus contains 3 species -
glycera, juno
and moneta
- all with orange uppersides and silver-spangled undersides.
Dione
juno is distributed from Mexico to Paraguay.
Dione
juno,
Satipo, Peru
Habitats
This species, like others in the genus, is migratory in behaviour, so can be found in
many
habitats, and at any altitude up to 2000 metres, but is commonest in disturbed
forest between
200-800m. It is usually encountered in sunny areas by riverbanks, rocky
slopes or roadsides.
Lifecycle
The eggs are bright yellow at first, later becoming red, and are laid in batches
on the leaves and stems of Passiflora (
Passifloraceae ). The larvae are mottled in shades of light brown, with short
bristly spines. They live gregariously and moult in synchronisation.
Dione
juno,
Satipo, Peru
Adult behaviour
The male is usually encountered singly imbibing moisture from puddles or ditches.
Females tend to be seen mainly when nectaring
at Lantana and other shrubs.
Dione
juno,
Satipo, Peru
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