Philaethria
Metamandana currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym
Andrew V. Z. Brower and Margarita Beltrán
- Philaethria dido
- Philaethria diatonica
- Philaethria constantinoi (incertae sedis)
- Philaethria andrei
- Philaethria ostara
- Philaethria pygmalion
- Philaethria wernickei
Introduction
Species in this genus are recognized by the green pattern on the upperside and the typical heliconiine elongate forewing. The genus ranges from Mexico throughout Central and South America (DeVries, 1997).
The genus feeds on several subgroups of the genus Passiflora, and the larvae use the older leaves in all instars. The larvae appear very much like Heliconius, but the pupae lack spines and resemble a bird dropping. The adults are almost entirely restricted to the forest canopy, and do not feed on pollen. On the other hand, adults are occasionally seen visiting fresh mammal dung, a trait not seen in other heliconiines (DeVries, 1997). Flight is very rapid, and the butterflies are notoriously difficult to catch. Some have suggested that Philaethria species are mimicked by Siproeta steneles (Nymphalini).
References
DeVries P. J. 1997 The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History, Volume I: Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae Princeton University Press, Baskerville, USA.
Lamas G ed. 2004. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papiionoidea. Gainesville: Scientific Publishers/Association of Tropical Lepidoptera.
Salazar Escobar JA. 1991. Descripci?n de una nueva especie de Philaethria Billberg, 1820 para el occidente de Colombia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae). SHILAP Revta. Lepid. 19: 273-279.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Philaethria dido |
|---|---|
| Location | Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso, Brazil |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Identified By | Gill Carter |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Source | Green Longwing |
| Source Collection | Neotropical Butterflies |
| Copyright | © 2003 Gill Carter |
| Scientific Name | Philaethria dido |
|---|---|
| Location | Brazil: Rond?nia, Porto Velho, Rancho Grande |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Identified By | Kim Garwood |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | ventral |
| Source | Green Longwing (Philaethria dido) |
| Source Collection | Neotropical Butterflies |
| Copyright | © 2006 Kim Garwood |
About This Page
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Andrew V. Z. Brower at and Margarita Beltr?n at
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Philaethria . Metamandana currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym.
Authored by
Andrew V. Z. Brower and Margarita Beltr?n.
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- First online 25 March 2007
- Content changed 21 July 2010
Citing this page:
Brower, Andrew V. Z. and Margarita Beltrán. 2010. Philaethria . Metamandana currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym. Version 21 July 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Philaethria/70437/2010.07.21 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
