Abstract: I have found this species to be very common at Rumi Wilco, but slightly less common at Buenaventura, Jorupe, and Cerro Blanco in southern Ecuador. I have found it to be extremely numerous around Mindo at El Monte Lodge in the northwest. Generally, this species is much less common in the east, but can be seen in fair numbers below San Rafael falls and along the Loreto Road in Napo Province. Siproeta sp. 1 (epaphus) is most commonly seen visiting flowers and wet sand in bright sunny areas along forest edges, streams, and disturbed habitats. It can is sometimes quite abundant, and and yet other years be quite rare. Like Siproeta sp. 2 (stelenes), the flight is relatively slow, but can change quite dramatically when disturbed. Recently, near Mindo (Pichincha Province) at Sachatamia Lodge, I observed a male Siproeta sp. 1 (epaphus) attempting to copulate with a female Anartia sp. 1 (amathea). The male's claspers were clenched onto the terminal segments of the female's abdomen, doing considerable damage such that it is unlikely that she survived (See Greeney, Dameron & Brodkin 2006 for further details).

Greeney, H.F., W. Dameron, & H. Brodkin. 2006. An interspecific mating attempt between a male Siproeta epaphus Latreille and a female Anartia amathea Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 39: in press.

Adult of Siproeta sp. 1 (epaphus) perches near the ground, basking in the morning sun, near El Monte Lodge 21 August 2003, 1650 m, nr. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney	Adult of Siproeta sp. 1 (epaphus) feeding at wet sand at Buenaventura 17 March 2004, 550 m, nr. Pinas, El Oro, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney
Adult male of Siproeta sp. 1 (epaphus) attempting to copulate with a female Anartia sp. 1 (amathea) at Sacha Tamia Lodge 6 July 2004, 1700 m, nr. Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney