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Butterflies of
the Amazon rainforest
Little Banner
Nica flavilla
GODART, 1824
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EPIPHILINI
subtribe -
EPIPHILINA
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Nica
flavilla, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
Introduction
This small and attractive species
is the sole member of the genus Nica, although it
is represented by several named subspecies. Its closest relative is
Peria lamis, which is quite similar on the
underside but lacks the silvery ocelli; and is dark brown above.
Nica flavilla is distributed from Mexico to
Bolivia.
Habitats
This species is found in rainforest and humid deciduous forest habitats at
altitudes between sea level and about 1500m, but is more frequently seen at
altitudes below 800m.
Nica
flavilla, Rio Madre de
Dios, Peru
Lifecycle
The eggs are white and
shaped like a flattened cone. They are laid singly close to the midrib of mature
leaves of Cardiospermum,
Serjania or Paullinia ( Sapindaceae ).
The fully grown caterpillar is green
with a brown lateral line edged with pink, and 3 brown transverse bands on the
back. There is a pair of rosetted spines on each segment, with those on the
thoracic segments being thicker and longer. The head is brown and bears a pair
of orange head horns with whorls of brown spikes.
The chrysalis is green with a pale
lateral stripe, and flecked with brown. It has a thoracic keel but is otherwise
devoid of projections.
Adult behaviour
Males are usually encountered singly at forest edge habitats
including glades, riverbanks and roadsides. They visit damp ground
to imbibe mineralised moisture, and usually hold their wings erect
while feeding, but can occasionally be seen basking on sandbanks.
They rest on the undersurface of leaves at a height of about 2-3
metres.
I
have not observed the females, but DeVries states that they
oviposit around midday and are most frequently seen along trails
and in large light gaps.
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