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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Puna Chequered Blue
Madeleinea koa
DRUCE,
1876
Family -
LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Madeleinea koa,
Tres Cruces, Manu, Peru.
Introduction
About 120 members of the cosmopolitan subfamily Polyommatinae occur in the
neotropical region. Most are confined to the temperate grasslands of the high
Andes,
although a few species occur at much lower altitudes.
The genus
Madeleinea
includes 19 known species, but due to their tiny size and elusive behaviour
there are almost certainly additional species awaiting discovery. The centre of
endemism is southern Peru and Bolivia, where 16 members of the genus occur, but
there are also species found as far north as Colombia.
Madeleinea koa
occurs in Peru, and probably also in Bolivia.
Madeleinea koa,
Tres Cruces, Manu, Peru.
Habitats
This is a high altitude species, found at between about 2500-3500m elevation in
the puna grasslands of the Peruvian Andes.
It frequents rocky areas, and can be found with some difficulty along certain
areas of roadside, where it visits damp gullies early in the morning in bright
sunny weather.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The Manu Chequered Blue is an extremely active species which skips
rapidly from place to place and is very difficult to follow by
eye. It does however tend to remain in the same general area for
several minutes at a time. Males are usually
seen singly, imbibing moisture from sand or rocks. They invariably
feed and bask with wings held half open.
Madeleinea koa
Shismay, Peru.
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