Overview
Interesting Facts
Common Names
Common Names in English:
Silver Emperor
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 Apaturinae
Emperors are members of the Family Nymphalidae. Found worldwide, they are a closely related group. Adults are brightly colored and stout-bodied. They are most closely related to the Charaxinae and Satyrinae subfamilies, as evidenced by their early developmental stages. In North America, they are limited to the genus Asterocampa.[2]
Physical Description
Species Doxocopa laure
Upperside of male is dark brown with some blue iridescence; median band is white on hindwing and mostly orange on forewing . Female upperside is dark brown without iridescence; median band is white on both wings and ends with a yellow spot at the leading edge of the forewing. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is grayish with a silvery iridescence. (ref. 106032)
Color:
Upperside of male is dark brown with some blue iridescence; median band is white on hindwing and mostly orange on forewing . Female upperside is dark brown without iridescence; median band is white on both wings and ends with a yellow spot at the leading edge of the forewing. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is grayish with a silvery iridescence. Note that the white bands don t touch the costal margin .
Size/Age/Growth
Wing span : 2 3/4 - 3 1/4 inches (7 - 8.2 cm).
Habitat
Subtropical wooded areas and edges .
Biology
Diet
Caterpillar hosts: Tree and shrub Celtis in the elm family (Ulmaceae). Adult food: Rotting fruit, dung, sap , carrion .
Reproduction
Eggs are laid singly on new growth of the host plant. Caterpillars make resting perches on top of leaves.
Behavior
Flight: July-December in South Texas; all year in the tropics.
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Animalia
()
- C. Linnaeus, 1758
- animals
- Subkingdom:
Bilateria
()
- (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983
- Branch:
Protostomia
()
- Grobben, 1908
- Infrakingdom:
Ecdysozoa
()
- A.M.A. Aguinaldo et al., 1997 ex T. Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Superphylum:
Panarthropoda
()
- Cuvier
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
()
- Latreille, 1829
- Arthropods
- Subphylum:
Mandibulata
()
- Snodgrass, 1938
- Infraphylum:
Atelocerata
()
- Heymons, 1901
- Superclass:
Panhexapoda
()
- Epiclass:
Hexapoda
()
- Class:
Insecta
()
- C. Linnaeus, 1758
- Insects
- Subclass:
Dicondylia
()
- Infraclass:
Pterygota
()
- Cohort:
Myoglossata
()
- Superorder:
Panorpida
()
- Order:
Lepidoptera
()
- C. Linnaeus, 1758
- Butterflies and Moths
- Infraorder:
Heteroneura
()
- Family:
Nymphalidae
()
- Brushfooted Butterflies
- Subfamily:
Apaturinae
()
- Emperors
- Genus:
Doxocopa
()
- Hübner, [1819]
- Specific name:
laure
- Drury 1773
- Scientific name: - Doxocopa laure Drury 1773
- Specific name:
laure
- Drury 1773
- Genus:
Doxocopa
(
- Subfamily:
Apaturinae
(
- Family:
Nymphalidae
(
- Infraorder:
Heteroneura
(
- Order:
Lepidoptera
(
- Superorder:
Panorpida
(
- Cohort:
Myoglossata
(
- Infraclass:
Pterygota
(
- Subclass:
Dicondylia
(
- Class:
Insecta
(
- Epiclass:
Hexapoda
(
- Superclass:
Panhexapoda
(
- Infraphylum:
Atelocerata
(
- Subphylum:
Mandibulata
(
- Phylum:
Arthropoda
(
- Superphylum:
Panarthropoda
(
- Infrakingdom:
Ecdysozoa
(
- Branch:
Protostomia
(
- Subkingdom:
Bilateria
(
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name .
Similar Species
Members of the genus Doxocopa
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 12 species and subspecies in this genus:
D. agathina (Agathina Emperor) · D. callianira (Guatemalan Emperor) · D. cyane (Cyane Emperor) · D. griseldis (Griseldis Emperor) · D. kallina (Kallina Emperor) · D. laure (Silver Emperor) · D. laurentia (Turquoise Emperor) · D. lavinia (Lavinia's Emperor) · D. linda (Linda's Emperor) · D. pavon (Pavon Emperor) · D. selina (Selina Emperor) · D. zunilda (Zunilda Emperor)
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
Notes
Contributors
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 17, 2012.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 26, 2008:
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Costa Rica): Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2602997
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-162633.0
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1569585
