Doxocopa cyane

Doxocopa cyane, the Mexican emperor or cyan emperor, is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.[1]

"Mexican emperor" redirects here. For the historical ruler, see Emperor of Mexico.

Doxocopa cyane
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Doxocopa
Species:
D. cyane
Binomial name
Doxocopa cyane
(Latreille, 1813)
Synonyms

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[2]

  • Doxocopa cyane burmeisteri (Godman & Salvin, 1884) (Argentina)
  • Doxocopa cyane cyane (Latreille, 1813) (Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia)
  • Doxocopa cyane mexicana Bryk, 1953 (Mexico, Colombia)
  • Doxocopa cyane vespertina Lamas, 1999 (Peru)
Male museum specimen

Distribution

This species is present in Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico and Colombia.[3]

Habitat

These butterflies inhabit cloudforest at elevations between about 600–1,800 metres (2,000–5,900 ft) above sea level.[4]

Description

Doxocopa cyane has a wingspan of about 55 millimetres (2.2 in).[5] The color of the wings varies by sex. Males show a brilliant electric-blue iridescence on the upperside of the wings, while the wings of the females lack this iridescence. Females have usually a brown ground color with wide longitudinal bands of orange and white on forewings and hindwings.[4]

Biology

Larvae feed on Celtis spinosa.[3][4] Males are solitary and territorial. They usually visit wet muddy patches and feed on rotting fruits, dung or carrion. Females mainly inhabit the forest canopy.[4]

References
  1. Catalogue of Life
  2. Biolib
  3. "Doxocopa Hübner, [1819]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  4. Learn about butterflies
  5. Jean-Claude Petit Inventory of the Butterfly Species of Sangay National Park - Ecuador


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