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Butterflies of
the Amazon and Andes
Pied Piper
Spioniades
abbreviata
MABILLE, 1888
Family -
HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe - PYRGINI
Spioniades abbreviata,
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.
There are
2 members of the genus
Spioniades,
which is allied to Quadrus,
Sostrata
and
Eracon.
These
genera all comprise of small to medium sized butterflies with a dark
brown ground colour, a series of characteristically shaped
semi-transparent windows on the forewings, and a peppering of
silvery-blue metallic scales. Several
Pythonides
and
Sostrata
species also have one or more broad bands of blue scales on the
hindwings, but only
Spioniades
have the large patch of white on the outer hindwings.
Spioniades abbreviata
occurs from Panama to Bolivia.
Spioniades abbreviata,
Manu cloudforest, 900m, Peru
Habitats
This
species is found in mid-elevation transitional rainforest at
altitudes between about 200-1200m.
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, basking on the upper surface of foliage. The
brown and white patterning has probably evolved to mimic bird
droppings.
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