Introduction
There are 1100 known species of Satyrinae in the neotropical region. About 570 of these are placed in the subtribe Pronophilina – a diverse group of high altitude cloudforest butterflies, all of which are confined to the neotropical region. The vast majority are found only in the Andes, but 4 species are known from the Atlantic cloudforests of Brazil, and there are a further 6 species that are endemic to Guatemala, Costa Rica or Mexico. More oddly there is one genus Calisto that is found exclusively on the Caribbean islands of Cuba and Hispaniola.
The genus Oxeoschistus comprises 13 largish species distributed variously from Mexico to Bolivia. There are 2 subgroups within the genus. The simplex group are characterised by having dark brown uppersides with a suffused orange band. In most species there is a complete set of ocelli within this band. The cothon group differ in having almost blackish uppersides that are marked with large white patches.
Oxeoschistus simplex is a common species in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Habitats
This is a cloudforest species found at altitudes between about 1200-2000m.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are commonly seen basking or resting on ferns along cloudforest roadsides and trails. Males visit urine-soaked ground.
