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Butterflies of the Andes
 
Peruvian Puna Skipper
Hylephila peruana DRAUDT, 1923
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily - HESPERIINAE
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Hylephila peruana, Manu puna, 3500m, Peru
 
Introduction
 
The genus Hylephila contains 21 known species, all confined to the neotropical region, with the exception of H. phyleus which has a range extending from Canada to northern Argentina.
 
Butterflies in this genus are characterised by having dark brown uppersides, with the forewings heavily marked with streaks and jagged bands of bright orange or yellowish; and the hindwings extensively suffused with the same colour. Males are noticeably darker than females. The underside wings of both sexes are yellowish or straw-coloured, with contrasting brown or blackish spots which vary in size and shape from one species to another. In all species the antennae are short and yellowish.
 
Hylephila peruana is one of several species which occur in the dry puna grasslands of southern Peru. It often flies in company with fasciolata, isonira and phyleus, and with lamasi, pallisteri, pseudoherrerai, rossi, shapiroi and tentativa - the latter six species all having been discovered between 1999 and 2002.
 
Puna grasslands, altitude 3000-4000m, southern Peru
 
Habitats
 
Hylephila peruana is one of a very small number of butterfly species which occur on the puna - high altitude grasslands where temperatures drop to near freezing conditions overnight, while daytime temperatures often reach 25 C. These grasslands are only found above the tree-line, and at 3500m or higher, usually above the clouds, bathed in sunshine for most of the year.
 
Lifecycle
 
I have no data relating to peruana, but the following is applicable to the closely related species phyleus, and probably applies also to peruana :
 
The eggs are pale greenish-white, and laid singly on the underside of leaves of the foodplants.
 
The larval foodplants are grasses ( unidentified in the case of peruana ).
 
The caterpillar when fully grown varies in colour from yellowish brown to drab green, and is marked with dark longitudinal stripes along the back and sides. It lives within a nest made by binding grass blades together with strands of silk.
 
The chrysalis varies in colour from pale green to yellowish brown, and is mottled on the back with dark brown. It has a dark longitudinal line along each side, and another along the back.
 
Adult behaviour

 

The butterflies are usually encountered in two's and three's, almost always in the company of other Hylephila species.

 

Males perch on rocks or among grasses, usually with the wings held in the characteristic Hesperiine position - hindwings outspread, and forewings held up at 45 degrees. In hot conditions at midday they close their wings to regulate their body temperatures.

 

Both sexes visit a variety of flower species for nectar, including Senecio.

 

 
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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