Theope pedias, Rio Claro, Colombia – Adrian Hoskins
Introduction
There are 47 known members of the genus Theope, distributed variously from Mexico to Argentina and Bolivia.
The species vary considerably in appearance – e.g. the upperside of eudocia is bright orange with a broad black apex within which is a patch of metallic violet-blue. At the opposite extreme, nycteis is pale brown, mottled heavily with blackish, and has a prominent double-pupilled ocellus at the apex of the hindwing. The vast majority of species including eurygonina are black on the upperside, with a dazzling metallic blue sheen across the basal half of the forewings and over the entire surface of the hindwings. Several of these including pedias, pseudopedias, mundula, excelsa and dabrerae are bright yellow on the underside.
Theope pedias is distributed from Mexico to Guyana and Brazil.
Habitats
This species is found in rainforest at altitudes between about 200-800m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The adults are usually encountered as solitary males, perching on or under foliage with their wings held erect or slightly apart.