Anaea aidea

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Nymphalidae

'The Nymphalidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Distributed worldwide, butterflies of this family are especially rich in the tropics. They are highly variable, and there are more species in this family than in any other. Adults vary in size from small to large, and their front legs are reduced, unable to be used for walking. Wing shape is also highly variable: some species have irregular margins (anglewings and commas), and others have long taillike projections (daggerwings). Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are frequent colors, while iridescent colors such as purples and blues are rare. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clustsers, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely. Brushfoots overwinter as larvae or adults.

'[1]

Subfamily Charaxinae

The Charaxinae are members of the Family Nymphalidae. These leafwings and relatives are primarily a tropical group of medium to large-sized, robust , fast-flying butterflies. In North America, they are limited to the leafwings.[2]

Physical Description

Habitat

Tropical forest edges , trails , streamsides.

Biology

Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Various Croton species in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Adult food: Sap , dung, and decaying fruit.

Behavior

Adults are rapid, strong fliers and often perch high in trees . Males perch on branches 6-10 feet above the ground to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on the host plant; caterpillars eat leaves. Young caterpillars use a leaf vein as a perch; older caterpillars rest in rolled-up leaves.

Flight: The dry season form flies from September-April; the wet season form from April-September.

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

Members of the genus Anaea

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 7 species and subspecies in this genus:

A. aidea (Tropical Leafwing) · A. andria (Goatweed Leafwing) · A. eurypyle (Pointed Leafwing) · A. glycerium (Angled Leafwing) · A. pithyusa (Blue Leafwing) · A. troglodyta (Florida Leafwing) · A. troglodyta floridalis (Florida Leafwing)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• Bibliography (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) / Charles A. Bridges. Urbana, Ill.: C.A. Bridges, c1993. url p. 230.
• Entomological news. [Philadelphia]American Entomological Society, 1925- url p. 152, p. 255.
• Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 4th series. San Francisco, California Academy of Sciences. url , p. 299.
• The University of Kansas science bulletin. 26 1939 [Lawrence]: University of Kansas, 1902-1996. url p. 344.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2602949
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-164560.0
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1571541

Footnotes

1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=18&sci=Nymphalidae&com=Brush-footed Butterflies [back]
2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Archaeoprepona&search=Search [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.