Moths of
the Amazon and Andes
Iridescent Tiger
Hypocrita plagifera FELDER & FELDER,
1862
Family - ARCTIIDAE
subfamily -
PERICOPINAE
Tribe -
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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Hypocrita plagifera,
Pantiacolla, Rio Alto Madre de Dios, 550m, Peru |
Introduction
The
genus
Hypocrita
( formerly
Eucyane
) comprises 44 known species. All are medium to large moths with jet black wings
that reflect an intense blue sheen. Most species are marked with broad diagonal
white or yellow bands on the forewings, and many species also have areas of
white on the hindwings. All have broad bodies and thin antennae.
The various members of
the genus are distributed
from Mexico to Bolivia, with the highest biodiversity in Colombia. Some species
are confined to the Andean cloudforests, while others such as
plagifera,
strigifera
and
eulalia
inhabit lowland forests.
Hypocrita
plagifera is found
in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This species is confined to the Amazonian rainforest at altitudes between sea
level and about 900m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The moths are active in sunshine, and have a rapid zigzagging or
figure of eight flight pattern. They spend long periods at rest
beneath the leaves of saplings and bushes, and always return to
the same spot after each flight.
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