Narrow-lined Hairstreak
In my garden. La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Arawacus leucogyna FELDER & FELDER, 1865
(Narrow-lined Hairstreak / Tecla rayada)
Arawacus leucogyna is distributed from Belize to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. This species is found in forest edge habitats. Males perch on the foliage of shrubs and saplings at trail intersections. Forewing: 16 mm.
There are 18 species of Arawacus, all confined to the neotropical region. All have a similar pattern of brown or black stripes radiating from the tornus of the hindwing and terminating at points along the forewing costa.
The pattern serves to divert the eye of birds away from the butterfly's head and body, and towards the 'false antennae' tails. Immediately after settling, the butterfly characteristically gyrates to face in the opposite direction and dips its head. It then slowly oscillates the hindwings, causing the tails to wiggle, which further acts to focus the observer's attention on the rear of the butterfly.
www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Amazon%20-%20Arawacus%20leu...
Narrow-lined Hairstreak
In my garden. La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Arawacus leucogyna FELDER & FELDER, 1865
(Narrow-lined Hairstreak / Tecla rayada)
Arawacus leucogyna is distributed from Belize to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. This species is found in forest edge habitats. Males perch on the foliage of shrubs and saplings at trail intersections. Forewing: 16 mm.
There are 18 species of Arawacus, all confined to the neotropical region. All have a similar pattern of brown or black stripes radiating from the tornus of the hindwing and terminating at points along the forewing costa.
The pattern serves to divert the eye of birds away from the butterfly's head and body, and towards the 'false antennae' tails. Immediately after settling, the butterfly characteristically gyrates to face in the opposite direction and dips its head. It then slowly oscillates the hindwings, causing the tails to wiggle, which further acts to focus the observer's attention on the rear of the butterfly.
www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Amazon%20-%20Arawacus%20leu...