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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Cyane Emperor
Doxocopa cyane LATREILLE.
1833
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
APATURINAE
Tribe - APATURINI
Doxocopa cyane, male, Manu cloudforest,
1500m, Peru.
Introduction
The genus Doxocopa
comprises of 15 medium-large neotropical butterflies from the Apaturini
- the same tribe to which the Apatura
Purple Emperors of Europe belong.
Male Doxocopa
butterflies reflect a brilliant iridescence from the upperside wings. In some
species such as felderi this is deep purple, while
in others it changes from dazzling cyan or turquoise to an intense electric blue
depending on the angle
of view and strength / direction of the sunlight.
Females lack the iridescence. In several
species the females are similar in appearance to Adelpha,
being marked with bands of orange and / or white on a brown ground colour.
Doxocopa cyane
is found from Mexico to Bolivia and Argentina.
Doxocopa cyane, male, Manu cloudforest,
1500m, Peru.
Habitats
This is a mid-elevation taxon, found in pre-montane cloudforests between about
200-1500m above sea level. In Peru it is confined to the eastern slopes of
the Andes.
Lifecycle
The caterpillar feeds on
Celtis
species ( Ulmaceae ). When fully grown it is green, strongly tapered towards the anal segment, and
has a pair of forward-projecting horns on its head.
The
chrysalis is probably similar to that of other Apaturines, which are typically
flattened laterally, arched dorsally, and superbly camouflaged as living or dead
foliage.
Adult behaviour
Males are strongly territorial.
They perch on high foliage, and periodically swoop down with
great speed and agility to investigate rotting fruit, dung, urine or
carrion on the ground. They are solitary and nervous, but after a few minutes will usually accept
human presence. They are most often seen when visiting wet muddy
patches, or the edges of small streams where they ford dirt roads.
Sightings of
females are very rare, as they spend most of their time high in the forest
canopy.
Doxocopa cyane, male,
Catarata Bayoz, Le Merced, Peru.
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