Napeocles
Genus of butterflies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Napeocles jucunda, the great blue hookwing, is a South American butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1808.
| Napeocles | |
|---|---|
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| Mounted specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Tribe: | Victorinini |
| Genus: | Napeocles Bates, 1864 |
| Species: | N. jucunda |
| Binomial name | |
| Napeocles jucunda (Hübner, 1808) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
It is the only representative of the monotypic Neotropical lowland genus Napeocles, erected by Henry Walter Bates in 1864. It has been assigned to the recently resurrected tribe Victorinini.[1] The species is very similar to some species in tribe Kallimini.
Subspecies
Subspecies include:[2][3][4]
- Napeocles jucunda jucunda Hübner, 1808
- Napeocles jucunda caesari Neild, 2008 (Venezuela)
- Napeocles jucunda dumnorix Fruhstorfer, 1912
Distribution
Habitat
These butterflies occur in tropical rainforest across the Amazon basin and from the eastern slopes of the Andes.[5] They can usually be found high in the canopy, but sometimes they are also present on the lower foliage of trees and on humid cacao-groves on fallen fruits.[6][7] The eggs and pupae are very similar to that of Siproeta stelenes, but the final instar larvae is characterized by a dark maroon basal color, with the thorax and abdomen flecked by numerous yellow specks.[5] The immature stages feed on plants in the genus Ruellia.[5]
Description
Napeocles jucunda can reach a wingspan of about 10 cm (3.9 in). These fairly large, wide-winged fine butterflies show a very hard projection on the hindmargins of the forewings, just below the tip, with a deep concavity below. The hindwings are round. The basic color is black or dark brown, with a broad blue to intense white band crossing the middle of the forewings and hindwings. The tip of the forewings shows also a small blue spot. The underside of the wings is colored like a wilted leaf, complete with "middle nerve".[8][9]
Bibliography
- Lamas, G. ed. (2004). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papiionoidea. Gainesville: Scientific Publishers/Association of Tropical Lepidoptera.
- Palo Jr., Haroldo (2017). Borboletas do Brasil [Butterflies of Brazil]. volume 2. Nymphalidae 1st ed. São Carlos, Brazil: Vento Verde. p. 1254. ISBN 978-85-64060-10-4
- D'Abrera, Bernard (1984). Butterflies of South America. Hill House ISBN 0-9593639-2-0
