Dynamine artemisia glauce, Satipo, Peru – Adrian Hoskins
Introduction
The Biblidinae are known for their diverse but simple and colourful patterns. In the neotropics their representatives include the subtribe Eubagina, within which are placed the 40 Dynamine species.
Like most Dynamine species artemisia has a reflective bluish-green upperside, with a blackish apex and wing borders. The underside is also typical of the genus, i.e. white, marked with narrow bands of orange. In common with several other species there is also a pair of blue-centred ocelli within the outer orange band on the underside hindwings.
Dynamine artemisia is a common species found throughout most tropical and subtropical areas of South America from Colombia to Bolivia.
Habitats
This species is found in a wide variety of habitats including primary rainforest and humid deciduous woodland at altitudes between sea level and about 1000m.
Lifecycle
The eggs of most Dynamine species are white. They are laid singly on the leaf axils or flower buds of Euphorbiaceae genera such as Tragia and Dalechampia. The larvae are described by DeVries as being slug-like, with tiny rosettes of spines on the back. The pupae are greenish, elongate, with a slightly bifid head and a pronounced dorsal keel, and suspended by the cremaster from stems or leaves.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are very active in hot sunny conditions, when they can be seen flying rapidly in zig-zag fashion, investigating along forest tracks. In the cooler temperatures of early morning they can often be found basking on foliage, usually with their wings held half-open.
Males visit dry river beds, and damp ground along sunlit forest tracks and roads. They habitually flick their wings open while moving about in a fairly erratic fashion as they probe for minerals on the ground.