King Leafwing, Polygrapha tyrianthina (Salvin & Godman, 1868) and Memphis iphis (Latreille, 1813).
Kori Wayku inca trail (2100 m.), Coroico, Yungas, Bolivia
february
1-3, 2010.
Photographer; Lars Andersen
Magnificent Leafwing, Coenophlebia archidona (Hewitson, 1860).
Caranavi, Yungas, Bolivia february 9, 2007. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Magnificent Leafwing, Coenophlebia
archidona. Old hotspot near near Caranavi, Yungas,
Bolivia december 8, 2018. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
The Charaxinae (357) are a group of robust,
medium to large Nymphalids characterised by
having a rapid and very powerful flight, stout
bodies and strong wings.
They are represented with one Charaxes species in Europe. In
Africa by Tribe Charaxes(179), Tribe Palla (4) and Tribe Euxanthe (6). In the Oriental and
Australian regions by Tribe Polyura (24) Tribe Prothoini (4) and Tribe Charaxes
(19). Total: 234 species
And in the
neotropics by genera- Tribe Anaeini; Anaea
(3), Coenophlebia (1), Zaretis
(6), Siderone (2), Hypna
(1), Polygrapha
(4), Consul
(4), Memphis
(67), Fountainea (10) Total: 98 species
Lars Andersen on riwer and Peter Møllmann on suspension
bridge, Caranavi,
Yungas january 1, 2010. Photographer; Peter Møllmann & Lars Andersen Meander
Prepona, Archaeoprepona
meander (Cramer,
1775). Caranavi, Yungas january 12, 2010. Photographer: Lars Andersen
Claudina Agrias, Agrias claudina lugens and White-spotted Prepona, Archaeoprepona amphimachus.
Caranavi, Yungas january 27, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen White-spotted
Prepona, Archaeoprepona
amphimachus and
back; Meander Prepona, Archaeoprepona meander.
Caranavi, Yungas january 28, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen. Meander
Prepona, Archaeoprepona
meander.
Caranavi, Yungas january 29, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Two-spotted Prepona, Archaeoprepona demophoon ssp. andicola. Caranavi, Yungas january 27-29,
2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Least Prepona, Prepona dexamenus tre male. Caranavi, Yungas january 12,26 and
16, 2010.
Photographer; Lars Andersen
Yellow-tufted Prepona, Prepona laertes tre male. Caranavi, Yungas january 26, 13
and 16, 2010.
Photographer; Lars Andersen
Narrow-banded Shoemaker, Prepona eugenes ssp. laertides four male. Caranavi, Yungas january 16, 16.
13 and 17, 2010.
Photographer; Lars Andersen
Pheridamas Prepona, Prepona pheridamas. Rio Rufus, Yungas, Bolivia february 1, 2011. Photographer; Peter Møllmann Red
Blue Shoemaker, Prepona praeneste ssp. buckleyana. Caranavi Highlands, Yungas,
Bolivia january 9, 2012. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Archaeoprepona and Prepona
The Archaeoprepona and Prepona are very similar on the
upper surface, black to being chocolate brown
with bands of dazzling blue or turquoise. The 2
genera can easily be distinguished by examining
the underside hind-wings - in Archaeoprepona there is a tiny
submarginal ocellus (eyes) in each cell, but in Prepona the ocellus near the
apex, and the one near the tornus (the muscular
middle section of an insect's body, which acts as
an anchor for the legs, wings, head and abdomen),
are both greatly enlarged.
Another difference is that Prepona males have tufts of
yellow androconial scales on the hind-wings (in Archaeoprepona these are black).
Androconia; Specialised wing scales in male
butterflies, from which pheromones are
disseminated to attract or convey chemical
messages to females.
Both genera are
noted for their red proboscises (red tube).
Habitats
This species is found in rainforests and humid
deciduous forests at altitudes between sea level
and about 1600m.
Lifecycle
The lifecycle is unknown but is probably similar
to that of demophon as follows : The eggs are
white, globular and laid singly on Annonaceae or Malpigiaceae.
Malpighiaceae is a
family of flowering plants in the order
Malpighiales. It comprises approximately 75
genera and 1300 species, all of which are native
to the tropics and subtropics. About 80% of the
genera and 90% of the species occur in the New
World (the Caribbean and the southernmost United
States to north Argentina).
The larvae have
a prominent thoracic hump, and are dark brown on
the thorax (body) and below the spiracles (breathing
holes), the remainder being pale brown. The head
bears a pair of stout recurved horns. The pupa is
bluish green with irregular white spots
resembling lichen, and is ovoid in shape with a
prominent thoracic bulge. It is suspended by the
cremaster (Tiny hooks at the tip of the abdomen
of a pupa, used to secure the pupa to a silk pad
spun by the caterpillar) from a leaf or twig.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have an
agile and very powerful flight, and are only
active in hot sunny conditions. They commonly
feed at sap runs, and also attend carrion, dung
and rotting fruit on the forest floor. I have
seen up to 4 different species on the animal
excrement and suction. If a fly sit on their
wings, they can pat it away.
White-spotted Prepona, Archaeoprepona
amphimachus.
Yolosa att.: 1500 m. Coroico, Yungas, Bolivia february
24, 2008.
Photographer; Lars Andersen
Males often sit facing
head-downwards and with wings half open, on
narrow tree trunks at heights between about 2-4
metres, and from this position watch for
potential mates. Often one can see them in fights
with other Nymphalidae in the air. They are probably the
fastest butterflies in the world?
Red Blue Shoemaker, Prepona praeneste ssp. buckleyana. Caranavi Highlands, Yungas,
Bolivia january 9, 2012. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Red Blue Shoemaker, Prepona
praeneste ssp. buckleyana (Hewitson, 1876). Caranavi
Highlands, Yungas, Bolivia november 21, 2021 Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Peter
Møllmann; I
had 2 wonderful days in the highlands near
Caranavi.
Most common
butterfly Aurora Morpho, Morpho
aurora,
hundreds flying all over.
Best was
several Red Blue Shoemaker, Prepona
praeneste buckleyana.
Orange-spotted Prepona, Prepona deiphile ssp. xenagoras. Caranavi Highlands, Yungas,
Bolivia january 12-18, 2013. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Orange-spotted
Prepona, Prepona deiphile ssp. xenagoras (Hewitson, 1875)
male. Caranavi Highlands, Yungas, Bolivia december 11, 2018. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Orange-spotted Prepona, Prepona
deiphile ssp. xenagoras (Hewitson, 1875)
male. Caranavi Highlands, Yungas, Bolivia december 11, 2018. Photographer; Peter Møllmann
Two-spotted Prepona, Archaeoprepona demophoon ssp. andicola. Caranavi, Yungas january 19, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Cramer's Shoemaker, Archaeoprepona licomedes male. Caranavi, Yungas, Bolivia january 22-29,
2010. Photographer: Lars Andersen
One-spotted Prepona, Archaeoprepona demophon ssp. muson. Caranavi, Yungas january 12, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen Chromus
Leafwing, Archaeoprepona
chromus.
Caranavi Highlands, Yungas january 23, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Lars
Andersen working on
the Jatata inn hotel, Caranavi, Yungas january 18, 2010. Photographer; Lars Andersen
Archaeoprepona (Noreppa); there are 2 species. Archaeoprepona; In Bolivia there are 5 species. Mesoprepona; In Bolivia there are 1 species. Prepona; in Bolivia, there are 7 species.
Lars
Andersen, Peter Møllmann and Gottfried Siebel have found in Yungas,
Bolivia (2004
to 2021):