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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Dainty Egg White
Dismorphia lysis HEWITSON,
1869
Family -
PIERIDAE
subfamily -
DISMORPHIINAE
Dismorphia lysis peruana,
Aguas Calientes de Machu Picchu, 2800m, Peru.
Introduction
The
subfamily Dismorphiinae, to which the Wood Whites of Europe belong, has its
headquarters in South America, where 51 different species are found. The
neotropical genera include Dismorphia,
Enantia, Lieinix,
Patia, Moschoneura and
Pseudopieris.
The 30
species in the genus
Dismorphia are characterised by having long narrow
almost elliptical fore-wings, and disproportionately large hindwings. Several of
these species have white undersides that are mottled in grey and yellow,
including altis, boliviana,
pseudolewyi, mirandola
and lysis. The species can however easily be
determined by detailed examination of the markings on upperside and underside.
Dismorphia lysis is distributed from Ecuador to
southern Peru.
Dismorphia lysis peruana,
Aguas Calientes de Machu Picchu, 2800m, Peru.
Habitats
This species is found in cloudforest at altitudes
between about 1200-3000m.
Lifecycle
Unknown, however DeVries states that several Dismorphia
species in Costa Rica feed as larvae on Inga or
Pithecellobium ( Mimosaceae ). In the case of most
species in the subfamily Dismorphiinae, the eggs are spindle-shaped, and laid
singly on the underside of leaves. In most ( probably all ) species the larvae
are cryptically coloured - dark green above, and paler green below.
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are usually
found as singletons flying in forest edge habitats, where they
nectar at Senecio,
Eupatorium and other herbaceous
plants.
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