Species of butterfly
Smyrna blomfildia, the Blomfild's beauty, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Subspecies
- Smyrna blomfildia blomfildia Fabricius, 1793 (Brazil)
- Smyrna blomfildia datis Fruhstorfer, 1908 (Mexico to Panama)
[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
Biology
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
External links
