Natural History of Ecuador's Butterflies (NHEB).

a project of the Yanayacu Natural History Research Group
Memphis sp. 1

Family Nymphalidae, Subfamily Charaxinae
This page was created by Harold F. Greeney in 2006. It is updated periodically and should be cited in the following manner:

Greeney, H.F. 2006. Memphis sp. 1 in Greeney, H.F. (ed.) Natural History of Ecuador's Butterflies. http://depts.washington.edu/nhrg/nheb

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this page or any part of NHEB, please contact Harold Greeney directly at revmmoss@yahoo.com.

Abstract: I have worked with this species only at the Jocotoco Foundation's tropical deciduous forest reserve of Jorupe in the Loja province of southern Ecuador. At this site, at elevations from 500-700 m adults and larvae are extremely common during early April. Oviposition occurs from late morning to late afternoon and females lay eggs singly on the bottom surface of leaves. They fly rapidly around potential host plants, alighting in the dorsal surface of leaves and rapidly tapping their front legs onto the leaf surface. When a suitable site is found, they land on the bottom of the leaf and lay a single clear yellow egg. Larvae feed on Euphorbiaceae sp. 1 and first through third instars rest on frass chains, usually constructed near the apex of the leaf. Sometime during fourth instar larvae construct a leaf shelter by rolling the edge of the leaf over and living inside the resulting tube. Adults feed on a wide variety of non-flower resources including dung, carrion, fruit, and tree sap.

Relevant publications:

Breeding dates: I have found larvae of this species to be very abundant during early April, but to date this is the only time I have visited the area. Many females were observed ovipositing at this time.

Photographs:

Eggs of Memphis sp. 1

Recently deposited egg of Memphis sp. 1 on the undersurface of Euphorbiaceae leaf. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by Murray Cooper

Egg of Memphis sp. 1 on the undersurface of Euphorbiaceae leaf., development just beginning. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Adult male of Memphis sp. 1 basking in the sun on top of a leaf, roadside in tropical dediduous forest, April 2006, Jorupe, 600 m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Caterpillars of Memphis sp. 1

First instar of Memphis sp. 1. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Second instar of Memphis sp. 1 resting on a frass chain built from the edge of the hostplant leaf April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Fourth instar of of Memphis sp. 1. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Additional photographs of Memphis sp. 1

Fourth instar of Memphis sp. 1 (just after molting) resting on a frass chain built from the edge of the hostplant leaf. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Fourth instar of Memphis sp. 1. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Fifth instar of Memphis sp. 1 resting inside shelter built out of the hostplant leaf. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Fifth instar of Memphis sp. 1. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Adult male of Memphis sp. 1 feeding on mammal dung. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Adult female of Memphis sp. 1 basking on top of a leaf after laying and egg. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Premolt third instar of Memphis sp. 1 resting on a frass chaing built on the hostplant leaf. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Second instar of Memphis sp. 1. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

Fifth instar of Memphis sp. 1 resting inside shelter built out of the hostplant leaf. April 2006, Jorupe, 600m, Loja, Ecuador. Photo by H. F. Greeney

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