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Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.
Butterflies of the Andes
 
Nabokov's Lycid
Nabokovia cuzquenha ( ? )  BÁLINT & LAMAS, 1997
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily - POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe -
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
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.

 

 

 
 
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.
 
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