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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2007, and must not be published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
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Butterflies of
the Andes
Blue Doctor
Rhetus periander
CRAMER, 1777
Family - RIODINIDAE
subfamily -
RIODININAE
Tribe - RIODININI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
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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designed, produced and owned by
Adrian Hoskins
Rhetus
periander, male, Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru
Introduction
This common yet very elusive jewel
of the rainforest is distributed throughout most of the
neotropical region from Costa Rica, south to Peru and Argentina.
It is one of three species in the genus
Rhetus,
the others being
dysonii
and
arcius.
Rhetus
periander, male, Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru
Habitats
Rhetus periander
is usually found singly, in glades, along wide tracks, or on disturbed forested
areas around habitations in
rainforest and cloudforest. It occurs at elevations between sea level and about 1800m.
Rhetus
periander, male, Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The butterfly has a very rapid and erratic flight, but the male often settles to imbibe dissolved minerals from mud. It will also visit carrion - I once observed one feeding on the juices of a dead tarantula in Venezuela !
The female is usually only seen when visiting Eupatorium flowers, or basking on foliage.
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