Butterflies of
Thailand, Malaysia &
Borneo
Dark Yellow-banded
Flat
Celaenorrhinus
cameroni
DEVYATKIN, 1998
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe -
introduction
|
habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
|
 |
|
Celaenorrhinus cameroni,
Ringlet, Cameron Highlands,
West Malaysia |
Introduction
Butterflies in
the genus Celaenorrhinus are known
as "flats" due to their habit of resting with their wings
outspread and flattened against a leaf or other substrate. Many
of the species have a pattern of hyaline "windows" in the
forewings, and some such as the beautiful African species
galenus are marked with bands or
blotches of almost luminous golden-orange.
The genus is
widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the world,
with 24 species found in the neotropics including 5 which reach
as far north as Mexico; 45 species in Africa, and 51 species in
the Oriental region including 11 found on peninsular Malaysia.
Celaenorrhinus aurivittatus a
localised but not particularly uncommon species which is found
from Assam and Myanmar to Thailand, Malaya, Laos, Vietnam and
south China. Until recently cameroni
was considered to be a subspecies of
aurivittatus, but it was separated by Devyatkin in 1998
and is now considered to be a full species. It appears to be
restricted to the hill forests of Thailand and West Malaysia.
Habitats
Celaenorrhinus
cameroni
is found in open areas within temperate and subtropical humid
forests at altitudes between about 400-1200m.
Lifecycle
I have no data
relating to aurivittatus or
cameroni but the
following is applicable to the genus
Celaenorrhinus in general :
The eggs are
typically large, dome-shaped, greenish in colour, and laid
singly
on the underside of leaves of trees and shrubs in the family
Acanthaceae,
including Asystasia,
Ecbolium,
Eranthemum, Nilgirianthus,
Carvia and
Thelepapale.
After hatching
the caterpillar eats its eggshell and then constructs a cell
made from folding over a piece of leaf and fastening it with
silk. After each moult it constructs a new cell, and when larger
it uses a pair of leaves sealed together with numerous silk
strands. It lives and feeds within these cells for it's entire
life.
If the leaf cell is opened the caterpillar defends itself
by arching its front quarters over its back and splaying its
legs, thus creating the illusion that it is not a harmless
caterpillar but an aggressive ant.
When fully
grown a Celaenorrhinus caterpillar
is typically translucent dark green, covered in very short whitish
hairs, and with a large dark coloured head.
Pupation takes
place in a newly formed cell constructed from living foliage or
dead leaf litter. The pupae are typically cylindrical, widest at
the thorax, tapering towards the head and gently towards the
rear.
Adult behaviour
The adults have an extremely rapid flight, twisting and turning
evasively before
eventually settling under the leaves of ferns and other
vegetation. They prefer to fly in hot sunny conditions, but in
cool and overcast conditions are still remarkably alert and
capable of very rapid manoeuvres.
|
