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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Pretty Mimic White
Dismorphia thermesia
GODART, 1819
Family -
PIERIDAE
subfamily -
DISMORPHIINAE
Dismorphia thermesia, male, Satipo, Peru
Introduction
The
Dismorphiinae is a small subfamily which includes the Wood Whites of the
Palaearctic region, and
about 50 neotropical species, but is absent from Africa, Asia and the Australian
region.
Features common to all Dismorphiine genera include the tapered and
down-curved antennae, long thin abdomens, elongated forewings, and hindwings
that are noticeably greater in area than the forewings.
The genus
Dismorphia comprises of 30 species, most of which
are sexually dimorphic ( hence the name Dismorphia
) - in other words the males and females differ in pattern and colouring. Many
of the species are mimetic, e.g. D. theucharila
mimics Oleria glasswings, and
D. amphione is a mimic of the tiger-complex Ithomiines.
Dismorphia thermesia ( not to be confused with the similarly named
thermesina )
has a prominent black bar on the upperside forewings, extending from the basal
area to the end of the discal cell. The female lacks this bar, and has more
rounded wings, but is otherwise similar.
This butterfly occurs in
Guyana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and western Bolivia.
Habitats
This species inhabits transitional rainforest / cloudforest habitats at
altitudes between about 400-1200 metres. It appears to be most frequently
encountered along roadsides, well lit forest trails, around the edges of small
clearings, and along the banks of small streams.
Lifecycle
To be
completed.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are locally
common - usually if you find one there will be several others
nearby. As with other Dismorphiines the flight is unhurried, with
gentle wing beats and frequent periods of inactivity. Both sexes
tend to fly mainly in overcast or hazy conditions and will
continue to fly in light rain, but avoid full sunlight. They
commonly visit flowers for nectar, and seem to have a preference
for white flowers. I have not observed males mud-puddling.
Dismorphia thermesia, male, Mariposa, Peru
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