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Butterflies of the Andes
 
Merida Glasswing
Pteronymia veia HEWITSON, 1853
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily - ITHOMIINAE
Tribe - DIRCENNINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Pteronymia veia brunnea, Monte Zerpa, Merida, Venezuela
 
Introduction
 
The subfamily Ithomiinae contains 372 known species, all of which are confined to the neotropics ( one species from Australasia, Tellervo zoilus was previously included in the Ithomiinae but has now been reclassified and placed in the subfamily Tellervinae ).
 
Ithomiines can be divided rather unscientifically into 2 groups - the Tiger-mimics and the Glasswings. Some genera, including Pteronymia, contain examples of both types.
 
The genus Pteronymia contains 46 known species, veia in my opinion being one of the prettiest. It has a wingspan of about 60mm.
 
The butterfly occurs in the northern Andes of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, and possibly also in northern Peru.
 
Habitats
 
This species inhabits evergreen rainforest and cloudforest habitats at altitudes between about 1200-2000m.
 
Lifecycle
 
I do not have data relating specifically to veia, but the following applies in general to butterflies in the genus Pteronymia :
 
The eggs are white, and laid singly on the underside of leaves of Solanaceae. Females of most species return several times to the same plant, laying up to a dozen eggs in total.
 
The larvae of Pteronymia species vary in appearance, some being dark along the back, with a pale central stripe, while others are banded in black and white, and characterised by the presence of a pair of soft fleshy horns projecting forward from the first thoracic segment.
 
The pupae of this genus are typically squat in shape, with compressed abdominal segments, and a bulbous thoracic section. They are generally silver or gold in colour, shiny, and resemble large raindrops hanging from stems or the undersides of leaves.
 
 
Adult behaviour

 

The butterflies are normally encountered singly. They are rather inactive, and fly slowly with deep wing-beats, but can put on a quick turn of speed if disturbed. They are usually seen when perching on foliage in light gaps, or when nectaring at Eupatorium plants. They also visit Epidendrum orchids, and may play a vital role in pollination.

 

Males feed at the stems of Eupatorium and Heliotropium plants from which they are able to sequester pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These are processed within their bodies to produce pheromones, which are disseminated from androconial scales in the form of "hair pencils" on the leading edge of the hindwings. The males can often be seen slowly fanning their wings to disperse the pheromones.

 

Groups of males of several Ithomiine species often aggregate at "leks", which are usually situated in dark and damp sites, typically beneath the overhanging branches of trees. The scent produced by the combined pheromones of all the species attracts more males and females of each species to the lek, and induces females to copulate.

 

 
 
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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