Eryphanis automedon

Eryphanis automedon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Eryphanis
Species: E. automedon
Binomial name
Eryphanis automedon
(Cramer, 1775)
Synonyms
  • Papilio automedon Cramer, [1775]
  • Eryphanis polyxena (Meerburgh, 1780)
  • Papilio polyxena Meerburgh, 1780
  • Moera automedaena Hübner, [1819]
  • Eryphanis wardii Boisduval, 1870

Eryphanis automedon, common name Automedon giant owl, is a species of butterflies belonging to the Nymphalidae family.

Description

Eryphanis automedon has a wingspan reaching about 55–60 millimetres (2.2–2.4 in). In males the dorsal sides of the wings show night blue iridescent patches, extending from submedial to postmedial areas, with well defined borders separating the non-iridescent sections. Ventral sides vary from faded brown to caramel color, with various eyespots. The female wingspan is slightly larger, with a slightly different wing color pattern.

This butterfly can live up to six weeks and flies in the dark forests of Latin America. It is a fast flying butterfly. The caterpillars are cryptically colored and feed at night on Poaceae host plants (mainly bamboo leaves), of which the elongated chrysalis mimics the appearance of a dried leaf.

Distribution

This butterfly is native to South America. It is present from Venezuela to the Guianas and Brazil and from Colombia to Paraguay, at an elevation of 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft) above sea level.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognised:[1]

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Eryphanis automedon
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eryphanis automedon.
  1. ↑ Eryphanis at funet
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