Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Orange Admiral
Hypanartia lethe
FABRICIUS,
1793
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - NYMPHALINI
Hypanartia lethe,
Manu cloudforest, 1500m, Peru.
Introduction
The
tribe Nymphalini includes many of the most well known and beautiful Palaearctic
butterflies, e.g. the Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta,
the Comma
Polygonia c-album,
the Painted Ladies
Vanessa sp, the Camberwell Beauty
Nymphalis antiopa,
and the Peacock
Inachis io.
In the neotropics the tribe is represented by genera including
Nymphalis,
Polygonia,
Vanessa
and
Hypanartia.
The genus Hypanartia
includes 14 species, all of which occur primarily in cloudforests of the Andes and the Cordilleras of Central America.
Hypanartia lethe is the commonest and most widespread species in the
genus, found from Mexico to Bolivia.
Hypanartia lethe,
Satipo, Peru.
Habitats
This species is found in association with disturbed forest
habitats at altitudes between 300-1700m.
Hypanartia lethe,
Satipo, Peru.
Lifecycle
The early stage morphology and ecology is very similar to that of
Vanessa : The eggs are white, and laid singly on
leaves of the foodplants which include Phenax and
Boehmeria
( Urticaceae ) and Celtis ( Ulmaceae ).
When small the larvae are black with short spines, and live
within a rolled leaf tube, lined with silk. The mature larva is cream coloured
with an orange head and black spines. It makes a tent by folding a leaf and
binding it with silk, and retires inside the tent when not feeding. As is the
case with Vanessa, the pupa is often formed within
the larval tent.
Hypanartia lethe,
Manu cloudforest, 1500m, Peru.
Adult behaviour
It
is unusual to see the butterflies basking with wings
outspread - they are normally held erect when the butterfly is
feeding or resting. Both sexes are normally encountered as
singletons, flying back and forth along forest edge habitats, and
settling periodically to rest on foliage.
Males are seen more commonly, usually when imbibing moisture from
damp soil, sand or decaying vegetation.
Hypanartia lethe,
Manu cloudforest, 1500m, Peru.
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