Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Scientific name: Marpesia chiron (Fabricius, 1775)
General:
The Daggerwing butterflies of the genus Marpesia are similar in wing shape to Swordtails and Swallowtails ( Papilionidae ), but can easily be distinguished from them by their straight, clubbed antennae - Papilionids have tapered clubs and are recurved at the tip. They can also be confused with the Nymphalid genus Hypanartia, but the latter have a more pronounced angular forewing apex.
There are 17 Marpesia species, all with the same characteristic wing shape as chiron, except for petreus, which has 2 tails on each hindwing, and a deeply scalloped outer margin to it's forewing.
The genus is confined to the neotropical region, but is closely allied to the Afro-Oriental genus Cyrestis.
Habitats:
This species occurs at elevations between sea level and about 2500m, and is found in primary rainforest, cloudforest, deciduous forest and open secondary woodlands.
Lifecycle:
I have no data relating to chiron, but the following characteristics are applicable in general to the genus
Marpesia:
The eggs are white or yellowish, and laid singly on the foliage of trees and shrubs in the family Moraceae - including Ficus, Chlorophora, Brosimum and Artocarpus.
The fully grown caterpillars are very colourful, typically marked with red and / or yellow spots and stripes. There is a single row of unbranched, recurved spines along the back, and the head is adorned with a pair of very long wavy spines. They feed diurnally and rest on the upper surface of leaves.
The pupae are typically pale in colour, marked with blackish spots or blotches, and have wiry filaments projecting from the back of the abdomen and from the head.
Adult behaviour:
Mud-puddling males are usually encountered in three's and four's, but aggregations of dozens or even hundreds are not uncommon. In hot weather they are extremely active, darting and skipping from place to place, and rarely settling for more than 2 or 3 seconds. The wings are usually held erect, but in cooler conditions the butterflies will bask with wigs outspread.
Females are elusive, spending most of their lives in the forest canopy, and are very rarely encountered.
For more INFO: (Marpesia chiron)
About this shot:
-ISO 100, White Balance set to "Cloudy".
-Custom colors (-2 saturation and +1 sharpness)
-20X Optical Zoom.
-Normal mode (Auto focus)
-No wind, very low natural ligth.
-Flash +2
Make: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Model: SP565UZ
Software: GIMP 2.4.3
Exposure Time: 10/2500 sec
F-Stop: f/4.5
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Focal Length: 9200/100 mm
Date Taken: 2010-06-24 12:21
Metering Mode: Pattern
Flash: Flash fire +2
File Size: 281 kb
