Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Nabokov's Lycid
Nabokovia cuzquenha
BÁLINT & LAMAS, 1997
Family -
LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe -
Nabokovia cuzquenha, Huacarpay,
Cusco, Peru
Introduction
In the neotropical region, which encompasses Mexico, Central America and the
whole of South America, there are 113 members of the subfamily Polyommatinae,
commonly known as the Blues and Arguses.
The
genus Nabokovia
is named in honour of the Russian writer and lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov. It
contains 3 species - cuzquenha, ada
and faga.
The butterflies are easily recognised by the very straight outer margin of the
forewings, the long labial palpi, and the pattern of dark spots on the
undersides.
Nabokovia
cuzquenha is a
recently discovered species, described to science by Bálint & Lamas in
1979.
Habitats
All members of the genus
breed on high altitude grasslands.
Nabokovia cuzquenha
is found at altitudes between about 3000-3700m on the puna grasslands of
southern Peru.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
It is probable however, that like other Polyommatines, the eggs are
laid singly on the leaves or stems of the foodplants. The larvae almost
certainly live solitarily, feeding diurnally on the leaves or flowers of
herbaceous plants, and are likely to be tended by ants.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are active in warm sunny weather, darting about in
zigzag fashion, and the flight is very difficult to follow with
the eye.
Males alight on small bushes,
perching
on the terminal leaves, but tend not to return to the same place
if disturbed, so the behaviour appears not to be territorial.
Both sexes nectar at various
species of flower, at
which times they habitually hold their wings in a half-open
position.
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