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Text and photographs
protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins
2007, and must not be published
in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the
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Butterflies of
the Andes
Orange-bordered
Sooty-wing
Melanis cinaron
FELDER & FELDER, 1861
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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.
Website designed, produced and owned by
Adrian Hoskins
Melanis cinaron, Manu cloudforest,
Peru
Introduction
The
name
Melanis
refers to the melanic pigment of the black scales which cover the distinctively
shaped wings of all members of this genus. Many
Melanis
species are marked with orange submarginal bands on the hindwings, and / or
similarly coloured diagonal bands on the forewings. In some species the apex of
the forewings is orange, and in others there are large red spots near the base
of the wings.
There are 27 known members in the genus. One particularly attractive species,
M. pixe,
has a range extending from Mexico to Panama, but the majority of species are
found in the Andes mountains, or in the Amazonian lowlands.
Melanis
cinaron occurs in
Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Habitats
This species inhabits pre-montane rainforest and cloudforest at altitudes
between about 900-2000m.
Lifecycle
Very little is known
about the early stages of
Melanis
species. The larvae are reportedly hairy, and feed on the leaves of trees in the
family Leguminosae. The chrysalis of at least one species is known to be
pale, with dark spots, and bumps along the abdominal segments.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have a slow fluttery flight, drifting gracefully above the vegetation at a height of about 1 - 2m above ground level. They favour overcast conditions and will fly even during light rain. On cloudy days they are often one of the first species to be seen on the wing.
In warm sunny conditions they remain hidden beneath leaves, but if cool will sometimes venture out to nectar at Eupatorium or Lantana.
Males of some Melanis species are reported to fly around the canopy of Samanea trees ( Leguminosae ) in search of females.
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