Common Names
Common Names in English:
Many-Banded Daggerwing
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 Limenitidinae
The Limenitidinae are members of the Family Nymphalidae. These admirals and relatives are found on most continents. Adults of most genera are characterized by their flap-and-glide flight. Caterpillar and chrysalis structure defines this group.[2]
Physical Description
Species Marpesia chiron
Hindwing
has a long dagger-like tail.
Hindwing has a long dagger-like tail. Upperside is dark brown with 3 pale
brown stripes
and 3 white spots near the tip
of the forewing
. Underside is light brown; basal half is gray with thin orange stripes. (ref. 105992)
Color:
Upperside is dark brown with 3 pale brown stripes and 3 white spots near the tip of the forewing . Underside is light brown; basal half is gray with thin orange stripes.
Size/Age/Growth
Wing span : 2 1/8 - 2 5/8 inches (5.4 - 6.7 cm).
Habitat
Tropical forests , openings, and river valleys.
Biology
Diet
Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of shrubs and trees in the fig family (Moraceae). Adult food: Nectar from Cordia, Lantana, and Croton.
Reproduction
Eggs are laid singly on buds of the host plants . Caterpillars eat leaves and make a resting platform with silk and dung pellets.
Behavior
Flight: May-December in Mexico, probably all year in Central America, February and July-October in South Texas.
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Animalia
()
- Linnaeus, 1758
- animals
- Subkingdom:
Bilateria
()
- (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983
- Branch:
Protostomia
()
- Grobben, 1908
- Infrakingdom:
Ecdysozoa
()
- Aguinaldo Et Al., 1997 Ex 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:
Amphiesmenoptera
()
- Order:
Lepidoptera
()
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Butterflies and Moths
- Infraorder:
Heteroneura
()
- Family:
Nymphalidae
()
- Brushfooted Butterflies
- Subfamily:
Limenitidinae
()
- Admirals
- Genus:
Marpesia
()
- Specific name:
chiron
- (Fabricius, 1775)
- Scientific name: - Marpesia chiron (Fabricius, 1775)
- Specific name:
chiron
- (Fabricius, 1775)
- Genus:
Marpesia
(
- Subfamily:
Limenitidinae
(
- Family:
Nymphalidae
(
- Infraorder:
Heteroneura
(
- Order:
Lepidoptera
(
- Superorder:
Amphiesmenoptera
(
- 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 Marpesia
There are approximately 61 species in this genus:
M. alcibiades · M. bahamensis · M. berania (Berania Daggerwing) · M. camillus · M. catulus · M. chiron (Many-Banded Daggerwing) · M. chironias · M. chironides · M. chriton · M. cinna · M. coresia · M. corinna (Corinna Daggerwing) · M. corita · M. cressilineata · M. crethon (Crethon Daggerwing) · M. donckieri · M. dospassosi · M. egina (Egina Daggerwing) · M. elegans · M. eleuchea (Antillean Daggerwing) · M. fruhstorferi · M. funestis · M. furcula (Furcula Daggerwing) · M. furcula oechalia (Furcula Oechalia Daggerwing) · M. furcula subsp. furcula (Furcula Daggerwing) · M. harmonia (Pale Daggerwing) · M. heraldicus · M. hermiome · M. hermione · M. hewitsoni · M. insularis · M. iole · M. livius (Livius Daggerwing) · M. livius livius · M. luzulina · M. marcella (Marcella Daggerwing) · M. marius · M. merops (Merops Daggerwing) · M. nigrescens · M. norica (Norica Daggerwing) · M. orsilochus (Orsilochus Daggerwing) · M. pantheus · M. peleus · M. pellenis · M. peruura · M. petreus (Ruddy Daggerwing) · M. petreus petreus · M. phiale · M. poeyi · M. sublineata · M. sylla · M. themistocles (Themistocles Daggerwing) · M. themistocles subsp. norica (Themistocles Daggerwing) · M. theonis · M. thetys · M. tutelina (Tutelina Daggerwing) · M. valetta · M. violetta · M. zerynthia (Waiter Daggerwing) · M. zerynthia dentigera (Waiter Daggerwing) · M. zosteria
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
- Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass.: The Museum, ENG url p. 171.
- Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Boston: Metcalf and Co., 1846-1958 ENG url p. 248.
Notes
Contributors
- Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 26, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 2 providers.
- LepIndex: The Global Lepidoptera Names Index
- Opler, Paul A., Kelly Lotts, and Thomas Naberhaus, coordinators. 2009. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: Big Sky Institute. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ (Version of April 17, 2009).
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 26, 2008:
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Costa Rica): Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
- University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Biology: Rancho Grande
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2603032
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Lep-159701.0
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14068997
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEPM4020
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 171968
