Taenaris

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Taenaris
Taenaris artemis. Pearl Owl (48630288686).jpg
Taenaris artemis
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Tribe: Amathusiini
Genus: Taenaris
Hübner, 1819 [1]
Type species
Papilio urania
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • HiadesGuérin-Ménéville, 1838
  • HyadesBoisduval, 1832
  • TenarisHübner, 1819
  • DrusillaSwainson, 1820
  • MorphotenarisFruhstorfer, 1893
  • ElymniotenarisFruhstorfer, 1911

Taenaris is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Amathusiinae, that distributed throughout Australasia with a majority of species being located on the island of New Guinea. They are commonly known as the owl butterflies. [2]

Contents

Taenaris are showy medium to large butterflies with predominantly white wings often featuring extensive patches of black, gray, or tan coloration. They are best known for their rounded hindwings which feature well developed eyespots, most of which are yellow in color with blue-black "pupils". [2] Due to their larval diet consisting of toxic cycasin-rich foodplants, many members of genus are involved within Müllerian mimicry complexes.

Distribution

Members of the genus Taenaris are found throughout Southeast Asia and Australasia. Their range extends from Malaysia and into the Moluccas and New Guinea and as far east as the Solomon Islands and as far south as the Torres Strait and Cape York, Australia. A majority of species are concentrated on the island of New Guinea, and thus east of Weber's line. [2] Only a few species extend beyond New Guinea, including Taenaris horsfeldii (found in Sundaland and west of Weber's line), Taenaris phorcas (Bismark Archipelago and Solomon Archipelago), and Taenaris urania (Moluccas). [2]

Mimicry

Members of the genus Taenaris often serve as models within Müllerian mimicry complexes with a variety of different butterfly species, owing to their exclusive diet of Cycads and high levels of toxic cycasin within their bodies. [3] Mimics of Taenaris species include pale forms of Papilio aegeus (Papilionidae), Elymnias agondas (Nymphalidae), [2] Hypolimnas deois (Nymphalidae), [4] Mycalesis drusillodes (Nymphalidae), [3] and Hyantis hodeva (Nymphalidae). [3]

Species

Related Research Articles

<i>Hypolimnas</i> Genus of butterflies

Hypolimnas is a genus of tropical brush-footed butterflies commonly known as eggflies or diadems. The genus contains approximately 23 species, most of which are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. One species, the Danaid eggfly, is noted for its exceptionally wide distribution across five continents; it is the only Hypolimnas species found in the Americas.

<i>Polyura</i> Subgenus of butterflies

Polyura is a subgenus of butterflies also referred to as Nawab butterflies and belonging to the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae, or leafwing butterflies. Like the large and conspicuous forest queens, they belong to the genus Charaxes, unique genus of the tribe Charaxini.

<i>Cymothoe</i> (butterfly) Genus of brush-footed butterflies

Cymothoe is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Limenitidinae, the admirals and relatives. They are known commonly as gliders. The genus is distributed in the Afrotropical realm, where species are found mainly in forest habitat. mainly in the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolian forests.

<i>Hyantis</i> Monotypic brush-footed butterfly genus

Hyantis is a monotypic nymphalid butterfly genus. Its sole species is Hyantis hodeva, which is found in New Guinea. It is uncertain which tribe this butterfly should be placed within.

<i>Elymnias</i> Genus of butterflies

The palmflies are a common Asian butterfly genus found from India to the Solomon Islands. The caterpillars mimic leaves which they feed on. The adults mimic certain species.

<i>Taenaris myops</i> Species of butterfly

Taenaris myops is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

<i>Taenaris selene</i> Species of butterfly

Taenaris selene is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It was described by John Obadiah Westwood in 1851. It is found in the Australasian realm.

References

  1. ↑ Taenaris at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lambkin, Trevor A. (September 2010). "A review of Taenaris Hübner (lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Amathusiinae) in Queensland, together with first Australian records for T. Myops Kirschistaudinger and Elymnias agondas melanippe Grose-smith (satyrinae)". Australian Entomologist. 37 (3): 77–92. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Nash, Robert J.; Arthur Bell, E.; Ackery, Phillip R. (June 1992). "The protective role of cycasin in cycad-feeding lepidoptera". Phytochemistry. 31 (6): 1955–1957. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(92)80340-K . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Lohman, David J.; Sarino, Sarino; Peggie, Djunijanti (30 June 2020). "Syntopic Elymnias Agondas Aruana Female Forms Mimic Different Taenaris Model Species (Papilionoidea: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) on Aru, Indonesia". Treubia. 47 (1): 1–12. doi: 10.14203/treubia.v47i1.3821 . S2CID   225718048 . Retrieved 18 November 2021.


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