Butterflies of the Andes PAGE 1

A gallery of photographs by Adrian Hoskins

Photographs taken in the Andes mountains of Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.

Also visit :

Moths of the Andes - a gallery of photographs

Species Index - butterflies of the world

 

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Click on thumbnails to see more photos, and detailed descriptions of the distribution, habitats, lifecycle and behaviour of each illustrated species......

 

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Merida Glasswing

Pteronymia veia

 

The subfamily Ithomiinae contains 372 known species, all of which are confined to the neotropics. The butterflies are denizens of the dampest and gloomiest recesses of rainforests and cloudforests. Males feed at Heliotropium and Eupatorium to obtain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which they chemically convert into pheromones. They gather at "leks", often containing males of several different species, to communally release their pheromones to attract mates.

  

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Red-banded Altinote

Altinote dicaeus callianira

 

This attractive species occurs in disturbed cloudforest habitats at altitudes between about 1200-1800m. Colonies are localised, and tend to be found in open sunlit situations, usually along roadsides, or close to farmland. The butterflies are most abundant in the rainy season, when they can be seen in groups of up to a dozen, visiting flowers, or flying in the morning sunshine. Males also commonly bask on unsurfaced roads, where they imbibe dissolved minerals from the surface, immediately after rainfall.

 

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Humboldt's Perisama

Perisama humboldtii

 

Perisama humboldtii occurs at altitudes between about 1200-2000m from Colombia to Bolivia. The butterflies spend the early mornings high in the trees, but at about 0900hrs suddenly become active, dashing back and forth between the tree tops and the surface of the ground, where they seek mineral-rich moisture. When searching for suitable mud-puddling spots they fly very rapidly, zigzagging at knee-height, back and forth over the ground. They are more abundant near habitations, attracted by animal urine on road surfaces, or moisture in gutters and trenches.

 

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Striped Falcon

Corades ulema

 

Butterflies of the genus Corades are instantly recognisable by their large size and very distinctively shaped hindwings. C. ulema breeds in the forested calderas of extinct volcanoes such as Pululuhua Crater in Ecuador, and in cloudforests at altitudes of 2000-3000m in Peru and Bolivia. It is encountered singly and infrequently, perching on foliage at heights of about 3 or 4 metres above the ground. In mid-late afternoon males sometimes descend to imbibe moisture at the edge of shallow streams.

 

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Ornate Junea

Junea doraete

 

This very scarce and rarely glimpsed high altitude species frequents the transitional zone where paramo or dry puna grasslands merge with stunted cloudforest at altitudes of about 3000 metres in the Andes. I have only encountered the species twice - in Ecuador I found a male, aggregating with Lasiophila and Lymanopoda to feed at the corpse of a small snake which had been run over by a vehicle, and in Peru I found a group of 4 males feeding at fresh mammalian dung at the roadside in Manu cloudforest.

 

 

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Edocla Redring

Pyrrhogyra edocla

 

Male Redrings are usually encountered singly or in small groups, when imbibing moisture from urine-soaked sand or damp rocks. These feeding sites are usually within the forest, at light gaps or on wide trails. I have sometimes seen them in the company of huge 3cm long ants, which totally ignore the butterflies. This suggests that Pyrrhogyra adults may possibly disseminate pheromones which have a pacifying effect on ants. If disturbed by birds or humans the butterflies fly off rapidly, and hide upside-down beneath the leaves of bushes, usually no more than a metre from the ground.

 

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Royal Perisama

Perisama calamis

 

The genus Perisama comprises 32 species, all found in cloudforest habitats at altitudes between about 1200-2200 metres. Perisama calamis is certainly one of the most brilliantly coloured and beautiful members of the genus. It is usually seen singly, sometimes in the company of other Perisama species, often close to habitations. It is extremely active in hot sunshine, flitting rapidly back and forth just above the surface of the ground, stopping momentarily here and there on logs, stumps, rocks and other objects.

  

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Owl butterfly

Caligo idomeneus

 

These huge butterflies fly at dawn and dusk in forested areas. both primary and secondary rainforest. The large ocelli on the hindwings probably function as "target" areas for bird attacks, diverting their beaks away from the vulnerable body. The eggs of Owl butterflies are parasitised by tiny wasps that ride from place to place on the wings of the butterflies. They only leave the female's wings when she lays eggs, and then return, to be transported to the next egg laying site.

 

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Orange-banded Metalmark

Crocozona coecias arcuata

 

This sun-loving little Riodinid can often be found in two's and three's basking on ferns or other low foliage in open, forested habitats in Venezuela. The wing shape is typical of the Riodinidae, as are the bright colours. Many members of the family have bands of red or orange, or are peppered with metallic silver, blue or green scales, and are colloquially known as metalmarks. There are over 1150 known species of metalmark in Central and South America, but much smaller numbers in other regions of the world.

 

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Blue Doctor

Rhetus periander

 

Most metalmarks have the wing-shape typified by the Crocozona illustrated above, but species from the genera Chorinea, Rhetus, Barbicornis and Ancyluris are noted for having long tails on the hindwings. Rhetus periander is usually found singly, in glades, or along wide tracks through primary rainforest. It has a very rapid and erratic flight, but often settles to imbibe dissolved minerals from mud, or to visit Eupatorium flowers. It will also visit carrion - I once observed one feeding on the juices of a freshly killed tarantula !

 

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Dyson's Blue Doctor

Rhetus dysonii

 

The genus Rhetus includes 3 species, of which periander is the commonest and most widespread. The others are arcius - paler, with longer thinner tails; and dysonii - in which the outer margins of the forewings are convex, and which has distinct white bands, and white markings on the tail. This species is usually encountered singly, in association with narrow streams or ditches, at elevations between about 400-1600m. In cloudy weather the males bask for long periods while imbibing dissolved minerals from the mud.

 

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Andean Painted Lady

Vanessa altissima

 

The genus Vanessa has worldwide distribution, and includes the Red Admirals and the Painted Ladies. The various Painted Lady species all bear a similar pattern of pinkish-orange, black and white on the upperside. The cryptic undersides are marbled in olive and grey, with a row of post-median ocelli of varying sizes on the hindwings. Vanessa altissima is one of the smallest species, with a wingspan of about 55mm. It is a high altitude species, and is found only in the high Andes of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

 

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Peruvian Puna Skipper

Hylephila peruana

 

This is one of a very small number of butterfly species which occur on the puna - high altitude grasslands at 3500m or higher, which being above the clouds, are bathed in warm sunshine for most of the year. The butterflies are typically encountered in two's and three's, often in the company of other Hylephila species. Males perch on rocks or among grasses, usually with the wings held in the characteristic half-open Hesperiine position.

 

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Oressinoma

Oressinoma typhla

 

This attractive species breeds in pre-montane rainforest and cloudforest habitats on both sides of the Andes, at elevations of between about 1200-2400 metres. In Costa Rica it breeds at lower altitudes, between about 700-1700 metres. The butterfly is localised in distribution, occurring near streams, or in association with swampy areas where sedges grow. The butterflies are usually encountered singly, or in two's and three's. They are active only in cloudy weather or weak hazy sunlight. Males perch on sedges, sometimes for long periods, but remain alert at all times.

 

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Salambria

Catonephele salambria

 

The genus Catonephele contains 11 species. Males are dark brown, with highly reflective brilliant orange patches, which vary in size and shape from one species to another. They perch on tree trunks, and bask on foliage or on fallen branches in light gaps, often less than a metre above ground level. Females are dark brown, marked with rows of cream spots. Both sexes feed primarily on overripe fruits in the canopy.

 

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