Smyrna blomfildia
| Smyrna blomfildia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Smyrna |
| Species: | S. blomfildia
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| Binomial name | |
| Smyrna blomfildia | |
| Synonyms | |
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Smyrna blomfildia, the Blomfild's beauty, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Subspecies[edit]
- Smyrna blomfildia blomfildia Fabricius, 1793 (Brazil)
- Smyrna blomfildia datis Fruhstorfer, 1908 (Mexico to Panama)
Distribution and habitat[edit]
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.[3]
Description[edit]
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.[4]
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Smyrna blomfildia. Mounted specimen, upperside -
Underside
Biology[edit]
The larvae are black, with a bright orange head and strong spines along the white sides.[5] They feed on Urticaceae (Urticastrum, Urrera baccifera),[2] while adults feed on rotting fruits. Males of these butterflies are usually seen in large aggregations imbibing mineralized moisture.[3]
The female Smyrna blomfildia will lay its eggs all throughout the plant. This offspring will eventually build frass chains that serve as their resting spot.
References[edit]
- ^ BioLib.cz
- ^ a b c "Smyrna Hübner, [1823]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ a b Learn about butterflies
- ^ Butterflies and Moths of North America
- ^ Smyrna blomfildia datis larva
External links[edit]
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