Myscelia cyaniris

Myscelia cyaniris, the blue wave, blue-banded purplewing, tropical blue wave, whitened bluewing, or royal blue, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Myscelia cyaniris
Dorsal view
Ventral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Myscelia
Species:
M. cyaniris
Binomial name
Myscelia cyaniris
Doubleday, [1848][1]
Synonyms
  • Cybdelis cyaniris
  • Myscelia cyaniris

Description

The length of the forewings reaches about 34–36 mm (1.3–1.4 in). The dorsal sides of the upper wings are bright blue with white transversal bands and white spots. The sapphire blue of the upper wings may appear black or neon blue depending on how the light is reflected. The undersides of the hindwings have a cryptic coloration, as they are mottled with different shades of color, varying from gray to brown, while the under sides of the forewings are black with white patches. The larvae feed on Dalechampia triphylla and Adelia triloba (family Euphorbiaceae). Adults usually feed on rotting fruit and animal dung.

Distribution

It is found in Central America and northern South America, from Mexico to Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.

Habitat

It is found from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft) on the Atlantic slopes and is associated with rainforest habitats.[2]

  • Dorsal view
  • On leaf

Subspecies
  • M. c. albescens Hall, 1935 – (Venezuela)
  • M. c. alvaradia Maza & Díaz, 1982 – (Mexico)
  • M. c. cyaniris – (Mexico to Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica)
  • M. c. millerorum Jenkins, 1984 – (Ecuador)
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References
  1. "Myscelia Doubleday, 1844" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Species info
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