Butterflies of the World - Lifecycle, Ecology, Taxonomy, Conservation, Photography, Butterfly Holidays, Photo Galleries, Book Reviews and more.........
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins 2007, and must not be published in part or in whole elsewhere without prior written permission from the author.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
 
Rusty-tipped Page
Siproeta epaphus  LATREILLE, 1813
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily - NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - KALLIMINI
 
 introduction | habitats | lifecycle | adult behaviour
 
Siproeta epaphus, Manu cloudforest, 1800m, Peru
 
Introduction
 
The tribe Kallimini includes some of the most colourful and instantly recognisable species in the world. Amongst them the African genera Precis ( Pansies ) and Salamis ( Mother of Pearl butterflies ), and the Asian Kallima ( Dead Leaf butterflies ).
 
In the neotropics the tribe is represented by the genera Anartia, Junonia, Hypolimnas, Metamorpha, Napeocles and Siproeta.
 
The genus Siproeta comprises of 3 species - the Malachite stelenes, the green-banded superba, and the Rusty-tipped Page epaphus. All are large butterflies, with wingspans averaging 10 cms.
 
Siproeta epaphus occurs throughout Central America from Mexico to Panama, and in South America occurs in Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
 
Siproeta epaphus, Manu cloudforest, 1800m, Peru
 
Habitats
 
This species is scarce in lowland areas, but commonly seen as singletons in disturbed habitats at elevations between 400-2000 metres, favouring forest edges, roadsides, cattle pastures, and well vegetated riverbanks.
 
Lifecycle
 
The eggs are dark green with yellow ribs, and laid in small clusters on the leaves of the foodplant.
 
The fully grown larva is maroon, adorned with orange branched spikes along the back and sides. The head is black with a pair of backward-curving horns. The larvae feed on the foliage of Ruellia or Blechum ( Acanthaceae ).
 
The chrysalis is pale green, with the thorax and abdomen covered in minute black dots, and is suspended by the cremaster from stems of the foodplant.
 
Siproeta epaphus, Rio Frio, Venezuela
 
Adult behaviour

 

The butterflies are usually encountered as singletons, flying in bright sunshine in open situations, but can also be found in hazy or misty conditions, basking on foliage or bare ground.

 

They have a rapid fluttering and gliding flight, and commonly visit flowers in pastures, along forest edges, and along roadsides. Males sometimes imbibe mineralised moisture from damp roads, muddy riverbanks, scree or rock faces.

 

 

 
 
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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