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Butterflies of the Andes
 
Moneta Longwing
Dione moneta HÜBNER, 1825
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily - HELICONIINAE
Tribe - HELICONIINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Dione moneta, a group of males at a mountain stream, Cusco-Manu road, Peru
 
Introduction
 
The relationship between Fritillaries and Longwings can be clearly seen in the photograph above, depicting Dione moneta, so an explanation is in order :
 
The Heliconiidae was until comparatively recently regarded as a full family of equal status 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 notion was again postulated by Ackery in 1984, and has since become accepted, though with some reluctance, by most taxonomists. Thus we now have the Libytheinae, Satyrinae, Biblidinae, Apaturinae, Morphinae, Nymphalinae, Limenitidinae, Ithomiinae, Charaxinae, Danainae, and the Heliconiinae.
 
The higher classification of the Heliconiinae was revised by Penz & Peggie in 2003, being subdivided into the tribes Acraeini ( a largely African group ), Argynnini ( the larger Fritillaries, found mainly in the northern hemisphere ), and the Heliconiini. The latter tribe are colloquially known as Longwings, and most are easily recognised from the elongated forewings and the characteristic delicate fluttering flight.
 
The Heliconiini includes the genus Heliconius ( 39 species ), 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 moneta is the most widespread species in the genus, occurring from the southern USA to Peru, Bolivia and northern Argentina.
 
Habitats
 
This species is migratory in behaviour, and can thus be found in almost any habitat, and at any altitude from sea level to 3500 metres, but is most often encountered in open sunny areas - these typically include riverbanks, rocky slopes, pastures and roadsides - in fact anywhere where there is an abundance of nectar sources.
 
Lifecycle
 
The egg is yellow when first laid, but later turns reddish. It is laid either singly or in small clusters, on the leaves and tendrils of Passiflora or Tetrastylis ( Passifloraceae ).
 
The caterpillar when fully grown is dark brown, with numerous grey and orange spots, and is adorned with short whorled spines on the back and sides.
 
The chrysalis is dark brown, with a rough texture, and contorted in shape, with the wing-cases bowed forward, the thorax keeled, and a large notch between the thorax and abdomen. It is suspended by the cremaster from woody stems or dead leaves.
 
Dione moneta, Cusco-Manu road, Peru
 
Adult behaviour

 

The butterfly is usually encountered singly, flying rapidly over open country in bright sunshine. Both sexes nectar at a wide variety of flowers.

 

Males can sometimes be seen congregating in two's or three's at places where mountain rivulets ford roads, and filter-feed, drinking large quantities of clear water, unlike other Nymphalids, which tend to prefer imbibing from mud or damp sand.

 

 

 
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.
 
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