Post by trehopr1 on Nov 9, 2020 16:48:44 GMT -8
The Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly (Marpesia petreus) is an extraordinary species of the most unique wing shape. Here in America there are only 2 places of which you may encounter it; South Florida and extreme southern Texas. Even in south Florida they are said to be more common on the Atlantic side of the state than the gulf.
Where encountered daggerwings are quite unmistakable once they light; though at distance they can be mistaken for Florida's Julia heliconian. There are 2 native fig trees which various literatures state as the food plant of the larvae: the strangler and the short-leaf.
Daggerwings are generally considered somewhat rare to encounter however, the (male) butterflies has been noted for sometimes fluttering about in groups of six or fewer as high as 30 feet in the canopy --- looking for females ! Females it is said tend to remain hidden in the canopy.
Beyond, its occurrence in the aforementioned places the species enjoys a widespread range south through Mexico and onward down as far as Brazil and Bolivia.
It has always been for me one of those things that I just HAD to get one decent specimen of if nothing else... About 4 years ago I investigated a collection which was being parted out. This lone specimen was present and its colors were bold but, more importantly those lovely angled wings were intact.
As you can imagine, if you see one of these at all in a collection finding one in pristine shape is largely unheard of ! Quite simply, unless someone has bred the species than getting a nice wild collected one is pretty unlikely for such an active species.
My lone specimen here is actually from Mato Grosso state in Brazil.
I just re-spread it the other night in a better and more appealing pose than it was originally set.
My lighting could have been better here but, my other source was worse...
Below, are 2 wonderful pictures (*taken from the web) of this grand species in life !
It could be said that there are more "colorful" species of Marpesia than this but, I cannot think of a one
with tails quite so extraordinary or a wing shape so angular.
Where encountered daggerwings are quite unmistakable once they light; though at distance they can be mistaken for Florida's Julia heliconian. There are 2 native fig trees which various literatures state as the food plant of the larvae: the strangler and the short-leaf.
Daggerwings are generally considered somewhat rare to encounter however, the (male) butterflies has been noted for sometimes fluttering about in groups of six or fewer as high as 30 feet in the canopy --- looking for females ! Females it is said tend to remain hidden in the canopy.
Beyond, its occurrence in the aforementioned places the species enjoys a widespread range south through Mexico and onward down as far as Brazil and Bolivia.
It has always been for me one of those things that I just HAD to get one decent specimen of if nothing else... About 4 years ago I investigated a collection which was being parted out. This lone specimen was present and its colors were bold but, more importantly those lovely angled wings were intact.
As you can imagine, if you see one of these at all in a collection finding one in pristine shape is largely unheard of ! Quite simply, unless someone has bred the species than getting a nice wild collected one is pretty unlikely for such an active species.
My lone specimen here is actually from Mato Grosso state in Brazil.
I just re-spread it the other night in a better and more appealing pose than it was originally set.
My lighting could have been better here but, my other source was worse...
Below, are 2 wonderful pictures (*taken from the web) of this grand species in life !
It could be said that there are more "colorful" species of Marpesia than this but, I cannot think of a one
with tails quite so extraordinary or a wing shape so angular.
