Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Smith's
Pixie
Melanis smithiae
WESTWOOD, 1851
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
Melanis smithiae, male, Satipo,
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 borders 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
smithiae exhibits local and geographical variation in the extent of the
orange markings. The red spots vary in size and are absent on the hindwings of
many examples.
This species
is found in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Melanis smithiae, male, Satipo,
Peru
Habitats
This species inhabits transitional rainforest / cloudforest in the eastern
Andes, at altitudes
between about 200-1000m. This species flies throughout the year but is commonest
in the early part of the dry season.
Lifecycle
I have no information
specific to smithiae but the lifecycle is likely to
be similar to that of other Melanis species : The larvae are hairy, and feed
gregariously on the leaves of trees in the
family Leguminosae. The pupae are said to be formed in clusters on tree
trunks.
Melanis smithiae, male, Satipo,
Peru
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies have a slow fluttery flight typical of aposematic
species, drifting gracefully above
the vegetation at a height of about 1-2m above ground level.
Males can sometimes be found imbibing mineralised moisture from
sandy river beaches, and are reported to
fly around the canopy of Samanea
trees in search of females. Both sexes nectar at
Inga, Cordia,
Albizia and
Citrus.
Melanis smithiae, male, Satipo,
Peru
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