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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Peppered Blue
Skipper
Quadrus
cerialis
STOLL, 1782
Family -
HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe - PYRGINI
Quadrus cerialis,
Manu cloudforest, 900m, Peru
Introduction
The
Hesperiidae are divided into 5
subfamilies - Grass Skippers ( Hesperiinae ), Spotted Skippers
( Heteropterinae ), neotropical Swifts (
Pyrrhopyginae ), Giant Skippers (
Megathyminae ), and the Flats or Spreadwing Skippers ( Pyrginae ).
In the neotropical region there are
about 990 known species of Pyrginae - a subfamily of Skippers
characterised by their habit of basking with wings outspread, as opposed to the
half-open position favoured by the Hesperiidae. About 580 species are placed
within the tribe Pyrgini, which
includes such well known genera as Urbanus, Astraptes, Bolla, Pyrgus, Erynnis,
and Mylon.
The
genus
Quadrus
is closely allied to
Pythonides,
Eracon
and
Sostrata.
These genera comprise of small species sharing the characteristic Pyrgine wing
shape and a peppering
of metallic blue scales overlaid on a dingy brown ground colour. They also have
a series of small transparent windows on the forewings which has a different
configuration in each genus.
In total there are about 45 species in this group of genera, 11
of which are placed in Quadrus.
Most
Quadrus
species are common and widespread, occurring throughout the Amazon and Andes,
although a few such as the Mexican
francesius
have more restricted ranges.
Quadrus
cerialis is
found from Panama to Bolivia.
Habitats
This species occurs in rainforest, cloudforest and humid deciduous forest
habitats at altitudes between sea level and about 1400 metres.
Lifecycle
The lifecycle appears to be unrecorded. Generally, Pyrgine
butterflies lay their eggs singly on either the upperside or underside of
leaves. The caterpillars are typically dull green or brownish, with thin longitudinal
lines along the back and sides, and with black shiny heads. They feed typically
on low growing herbaceous plants, but some feed on the leaves of
bushes or trees. The pupae are usually dark and smooth, with the wing cases in a
contrasting tone or colour. They are normally formed within silken tents formed
by spinning together the leaves of the foodplant.
Adult behaviour
The butterfly is usually
encountered singly, or occasionally in two's or three's, and is
active mainly in hazy sunshine or early in the morning. In hot
weather it retires to the shade of the forest, occupying light
gaps where the sunlight filters through leaves. It periodically
basks on the upper surface of tree foliage at a height of about
2-3 metres, interspersed with longer periods spent at rest beneath
leaves with wings outspread.
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