Peru Lepidoptera
A Web Page by Roy J. Beckemeyer
Butterflies!!! I don't think we have ever seen so many! Pat shows her delight here as she is used as a resource by one of the leps that seemed on some days to perch on our clothes and bare skin by the dozens. Robbins et al (1996, Taxonomic composition and ecological structure of the species-rich butterfly community at Pakitza, Parque Nacional del Manu, Peru, pp. 217-252 in Manu: La Biodiversidad del Sureste del Peru, Smithsonian Institution) list 1300 species for the tropical forests here. We spent most of our time with butterflies of the cloud forest, but have pictures of lowland forest species as well. I have identified pictures by family and to lower level taxon where I could do so. Otherwise they are "Miscellaneous". As pictures are identified, I will update the page.
Some of the photos show butterflies nectaring, but most were taken in situations where the butterflies were "puddling" or perching on surfaces to search out minerals or other food supplements they need. They "puddled" on us, on rocks, on mud, and on such exotic delights as road-killed possum (left) or road killed frog - what a contrast!
At the right is a Heliconidae: Philaethria dido, that is found from Mexico to Peru. It was photographed at Cock of the Rock Lodge at 1600 m elevation.
Left - a member of the Metalmark Family, Riodinidae: Rhetus arcius (what colors!)
Right - a Swordtail, Family Papilionidae: probably a Eurytides sp.
Both photos taken 8 November on the Atalaya Road between 1400 and 1800 meters.
Left and right, 15 November along Atalaya Road (Cloud Forest). Left: Nymphalidae: Anartia amathea
Left, 15 November, right 8 November, Atalaya Road.
Left & right - 8 November, Atalaya Road. Left and near right: Nymphalidae: Heliconius doris (red form).