Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Genus: Adelpha
Species: lycorias
Binomial name: Adelpha lycorias (GODART, 1824)
Introduction The majority of Adelpha species are similarly marked with bands of white, and orange markings in the subapical area. Adelpha lycorias is unique in having broad pink diagonal bands across the forewings, although there are several other orange-banded species with a similar pattern, including salmoneus and boreas. Adelpha lycorias occurs from Mexico to Paraguay, and also in the Atlantic cloudforests of Brazil. Habitats This species is found at elevations between sea level and about 2500m but is commonest in cloudforest habitats between 800-1800m.
Lifecycle The eggs are white or pale green, and laid singly on the foliage of the foodplants. The fully grown larva is pale brown, marked on the thoracic segments with a pale saddle adorned with eight prominent whorled spikes. A series of shorter spikes run along the back, and the lateral areas are adorned with small bristles. The larvae feed on Trema ( Ulmaceae ) in deciduous forest, Urera and Myriocarpa ( Urticaceae ) in lowland rainforest, and Cecropia ( Moraceae ) in premontane cloudforest. They habitually rest on the upper surface of the leaves, adopting an "S" posture. The pupa, which is suspended by the cremaster from a twig, is dark brown with bronze wing cases. It is smooth, but oddly shaped, with an enormous "jug handle" on the thorax. Adult behaviour
This species has a slower and more graceful flight than the white-and-orange banded Adelpha species. Males often glide in circles at knee-height, alighting for a moment here and there on damp soil to imbibe moisture.
Both sexes feed at rotting fruit, either in the canopy or on the forest floor.
