Siseme aristoteles sprucei, Tatama NP, Colombia – Adrian Hoskins
Introduction
The genus Siseme comprises of 9 known species, all found exclusively in the neotropical region.The various species differ in colour and pattern. Siseme militaris for example is plain grey, except for a broad orange horizontal streak along the costa of the hindwing. The other species are grey or dark brown in colour, and marked according to species with bands or patches of white or orange. In several species there is a paler outer band, often in the form of rays of grey which run parallel to the veins. All species except militaris have either one or two orange-red spots at the tornus of the hindwings.
Siseme aristoteles is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Habitats
This species is found in cloudforest habitats at altitudes between about 800-2000 metres.
Lifecycle
Unknown.
Adult behaviour
Females of all Siseme species are virtually unknown, and probably spend their entire lives high in the forest canopy. Males are quite frequently encountered, usually singly but occasionally in two’s and three’s, when imbibing mineralised moisture from roadsides, river beaches and the shores of streams. They tend to be seen more often on cloudy or hazy days, when they feed and bask with wings fully outspread.
Siseme aristoteles sprucei, Tatama NP, Colombia – Adrian Hoskins