Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphaliae
Subfamily: BIBLIDINAE
Tribe: AGERONIINI
Genus: Panacea
Specific name: prola - Doubleday [1848]
Scientific name: - Panacea prola Doubleday [1848]
Introduction:
The genus Panacea contains 3 known species, all confined to the neotropics.
The underside hindwings of all Panacea species are reddish. In P. procilla the hue is dull reddish brown, overlaid with broken wavy black lines and a series of submarginal ocelli. In regina the underside is red, with a suffused pattern of blackish markings.
The species featured here - Panacea prola, is smaller than regina and has a bright red underside that is devoid of markings. The iridescent bands on the upperside appear as a highly reflective pale turquoise when viewed from directly above in bright sunlight. In overcast conditions, when viewed at certain angles, the colour changes to a beautiful shade of sky blue.
Panacea prola is found throughout much of South America, from Colombia to southern Brazil but is more abundant in the foothills of the eastern Peruvian Andes than anywhere else.
Habitats:
This species appears to be confined to rainforest and transitional cloudforest, at altitudes below about 1000m. It becomes increasingly abundant at lower altitudes, and can be extremely common below 500m in certain areas, e.g. in the forests of the Manu in southern Peru.
Lifecycle:
Surprisingly the lifecycle and larval foodplants of this common butterfly are apparently unknown.
Adult behaviour:
The butterflies roost amongst foliage high in the forest canopy. In the early morning they can be seen basking on tree trunks at a height of about 10-15 metres, head downwards, with wings flattened against the bark of the tree.
As temperatures begin to climb and light levels increase, they gradually descend to bask at lower points on the trunk, but will fly back to bask much higher up if disturbed. Later, even the weather remains cool and overcast, they descend to settle on riverbanks, often settling on rocks, stones, or logs. Once the butterflies have been on the ground for a few minutes they become very reluctant to move, and will remain basking until dusk, even during light showers or drizzle.
