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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Sergius Firetip
Pyrrhopyge sergius
HOPFFER, 1874
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRRHOPYGINAE
tribe - PYRRHOPYGINI
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Pyrrhopyge
sergius ( left ) with Perisama
lebasii
Introduction
The
subfamily Pyrrhopyginae includes 163 known species, all of which are restricted
to the neotropical region.
The butterflies
are characterised by having a massive and muscular thorax, a large head, and a
conical abdomen with compressed segments.
Several genera, including
Jemadia and Elbella
have a pattern of hyaline "windows" on the forewings, and are marked with
stripes and bands of brilliant blue and white. Other genera such as Mysarbia, Mysoria
and Pyrrhopyge
lack the hyaline windows, and are characterised instead by having bright pink or
red markings on the head and / or on the tip of the abdomen.
The
38 species in the genus Pyrrhopyge are all similar in appearance,
typically having a black or dark brown ground colour, and white or orange
fringes. In most species the head and tail are both bright red or orange, and in
some species such as telassina there are orange
shoulder-stripes on the thorax. The wings are either black or dark brown, and in
sunlight both wing surfaces reflect a metallic sheen which varies in hue from
green to blue or purple according to angle of view. In some species such as phidias
the basal area of the underside hindwings is white.
Pyrrhopyge sergius
occurs from Colombia to Bolivia, and has 7 named
subspecies.
Pyrrhopyge
sergius, Rio Kosnipata, Peru
Habitats
This species occurs primarily in lowland and mid-elevation primary rainforests,
but can sometimes be found at altitudes as high as 1800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Pyrrhopyge
sergius ( bottom ) with Perisama
canoma ( left ) and Perisama
lebasii
Adult behaviour
The
butterflies are usually seen when discovered on the ground
imbibing mineralised water from wet rocks, small pools, or at the
edges of rivers and lagoons. They are usually seen singly, but
sometimes 3 or 4 will congregate to feed at bird droppings on the
forest floor.
When settling to feed they
initially hold their wings erect, but after a few moments spread
them flat, particularly in cloudy or hazy conditions. If disturbed
they usually dart up and circle around a nearby tree, and then
settle on it's foliage until such time as they feel it is safe to
return to their feeding spot.
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