Tag Archive: butterflies


3-5-17 Paper Kite from Ron’s Butterfly Series

Filed under: INVERTEBRATES, RAINFOREST BIRDS — Leave a comment
March 5, 2017

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera  (moths and butterflies)
Family: Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies: they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up)
Subfamily Danainae

Genus/species: Idea leuconoe

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Wings are translucent white patterned with black veins, and numerous oval black spots.

paper kite33211409166_fbd4a42379_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Found in Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines in coastal mangrove forest and lowland rainforest.

PREDATORS: The bright wing patterns “advertise” these unpalatable qualities, All Danaines are thought to be distasteful to birds. Their bodies contain toxins which are derived from the lactiferous larval food plants, and are often supplemented by further toxins sequestered from adult food sources. Any bird that suffers the highly unpleasant experience of tasting a Danaine is unlikely to attack other similarly coloured butterflies. Effectively, a few individuals are sacrificed for the good of the species as a whole. Aposematism see Color of Life

REMARKS: They are noted for their slow and very graceful flight, which gives them the appearance of white handkerchiefs floating gently on the breeze.

References

California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Ms

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/33211409166/in/album-72157608449327886/

EOL www.eol.org/pages/137237/overview

Guide to the world of butterflies and moths: www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Malaysia%20-%20Idea%20leuco…

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8-6-13 Orange Barred Sulfur from Ron’s Butterfly Series

Filed under: ARTHROPODS, INVERTEBRATES — Leave a comment
August 5, 2013

TAXONOMY:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
Family: Pieridae (Whites and Sulfurs)

Genus/species: Phoebis philea 

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Upperside of male bright yellow-orange; forewing has red-orange bar, hindwing with red-orange outer margin. Female much larger than male with prominent dark spots along the upper forewing. Wing Span: 2 3/4 – 4 inches.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Resident from Brazil, north through Central America to peninsular Florida. Migrants appear sometimes along the Gulf States, in eastern Arizona and in New Mexico along the border. During dry years, some migrate to the Northeast. P. philea has been considered a transient resident of Southern California. Found in open lowland sites along forest edges. Also frequents gardens, parks, and road edges.

Orange Barr Sulphur 3128915093_cd28b8bf32_o

DIET IN THE WILD: Caterpillar: Cassia species in the pea family; adult: nectar from various flowers.

REPRODUCTION: Females lay single eggs on leaves and flowers of host plants during the wet season. Caterpillars feed preferentially on the flowers.

REMARKS: These swift, high flyers have been reported as rare migrants as far north as Canada.

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608449327886/with/3201526951/

WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-14i

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7-29-13 Doris Longwing from Ron’s Butterfly Series

Filed under: ARTHROPODS, INVERTEBRATES — Leave a comment
July 29, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Genus/species: Heliconius doris

Blue morph

Doris Longwing (blue morph) 3267097210_300ac83016_o

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Appears in several color morphs; hindwing markings may be red-orange, blue, or green. Two white markings on forewing.

Doris Longwing red morph Heliconius doris light sm text

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Central America to northwestern Amazonia. Found from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 feet) in forest clearings. Fly and feed mostly in the mid-story.

DIET IN THE WILD: Nectar and pollen.

Wing underside

Doris Longwing 4747129049_3c7123e657_b

PREDATORS: Eaten by birds.

REMARKS: Heliconians are unique. Unlike other butterflies, they not only sip nectar, but also use their proboscises to collect and absorb the protein from pollen. This amino acid-rich diet allows them to function and live longer than most other butterflies. Adults can live for up to 9 months.

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608449327886/

WordPress Shortlink   http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-13s

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