Haematera pyrame - HÜBNER, 1819
Family: NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily: BIBLIDINAE
Tribe: BIBLIDINI
subtribe: CALLICORINA
Introduction: The genus Haematera ( previously known as Callidula ) is closely allied to Perisama and Orophila. It comprises of a single species - pyrame, which ranges from Nicaragua to Argentina, in the form of 6 recognised subspecies.
The upperside of the male is blackish, with the basal area of fore and hind wings being a deep rosy pink colour. The forewings of the female are similar to those of the male, but the hindwings are entirely dark brown. In examples of both sexes from Colombia and Venezuela the pink colouration is replaced by a more orange hue.
Habitats: This species is found in disturbed habitats within humid deciduous forest, rainforest and cloudforest, usually at altitudes between about 200-1200m.
Lifecycle: The larva is pale green, peppered with tiny white warts. It's head bears a pair of large forward-projecting rosetted spines. The foodplant is Urvillea ulmacea ( Sapindaceae ).
Adult behaviour: Males are often seen mud-puddling on sunny river-beaches, dirt roads and wide forest trails. They are usually seen singly, but in some years there are major population explosions, and at such times large aggregations can be found at seepages and along dry river beds. They are very active in hot sunshine, flitting constantly from spot to spot, but when they eventually settle - usually somewhere rich in mineralised moisture - they may remain for several minutes.
