Smyrna blomfildia

Smyrna blomfildia
Smyrna blomfildia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Tribe: Coeini
Genus: Smyrna
Species: S. blomfildia
Binomial name
Smyrna blomfildia
(Fabricius, 1781)[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio blomfildia Fabricius, 1781
  • Papilio proserpina Fabricius, 1793
  • Satyrus pluto Westwood, 1851

Smyrna blomfildia, common name Blomfild's Beauty, is a species of butterfly in the Nymphalidae family.

Subspecies

[2]

Description

Smyrna blomfildia has a wingspan of about 75–90 millimetres (3.0–3.5 in). The basic color of the wings is red-orange in males, brown in females. The upperside of the forewings show a black apex with three white spots. The underside of hindwings has brown and tan wavy markings with a few submarginal spots.[3]

Mounted specimen of Smyrna blomfildia

The larvae are black, with a bright orange head and strong spines along the white sides.[4] They feed on Urticaceae (Urticastrum, Urrera baccifera),[2] while adults feed on rotting fruits. Males of these butterflies are usyally seen in large aggregations imbibing mineralised moisture.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Blomfild's Beauty can be found from South Texas and Mexico to Peru through Central America. These butterflies live in tropical forests [2] at an elevation of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Biolib
  2. 1 2 3 Funet
  3. ↑ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  4. ↑ Smyrna blomfildia datis larva
  5. 1 2 Learn about butterflies

External links


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