Memphis (Anaea)
Species
There are about 60 species of these Neotropical butterflies ,whose underwings resemble dead leaves. Memphis species were previously catagorized as a subgenus of Anaea. They are medium sized butterflies with striking shapes and colours living at 500m-2000m. They are extremely fast flyers who rest high up on branches with their head facing downwards. Sometimes they adopt this position because they are imbibing secretions from the tree. They also feed of rotting fruit.
The third radial vein always arises distal to the fifth radial vein .
Depending on the species the sexes can be similar or dimorphic, tailed or tailless.
Identification can be difficult due to the variation of upper and underside patterns.
Hostplants include Piperaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lauraceae.
The larvae are attacked by tachinid flies and chalcid wasps. The larvae protect themselves by rolling tubes and hiding inside.
Some species have a wide geographical range, whilst others may have very restricted ranges. They occur in all forests and tend to fly in the forest canopy. They feed on rotting fruit ,dung and carrion, and are fast flyers
Memphis (Anaea) acaudata
Memphis (Anaea) acaudata
Peru
w 50mm
m a1 £ 4.50
Memphis acaudata verso
Memphis acaudata paralectotype
Peru
Memphis (Anaea) acidalia
Memphis acidalia
Peru
w 60mm
m a1 £ 3.50
Memphis acidalia verso
Memphis (Anaea) arginussa
Mottled leafwing
Peru
w 50mm
m a1£ 3.60
Memphis arginussa verso
Memphis (Anaea) cerelia
Memphis cerelia
Peru
w
m a1 £ 6
Memphis cerelia verso
Memphis eurypyle
Pointed leafwing
verso
Memphis (Anaea) lineata
Memphis lineata
Peru
w 60mm
m a1 £3.50
Memphis lineata verso
Memphis (Anaea) moruus morpheus
Memphis moruus morpheus
Peru
w 50mm
m a1 £ 2.75
Memphis moruus morpheus verso
Memphis oenomais
boisduval's leafwing
w 50mm
m a1 £ 4.50
Memphis oenomais verso
Memphis (Anaea) philumena
Orange striped leafwing
Peru
w 60mm
m a1 £3
Memphis philumena verso
Memphis philumena xenica
Mexico
M A1 £ 20
F A1 22
Memphis (Anaea) polycarmes
Memphis polycarmes
Peru
w 55mm
m A1 £3.50
Memphis polycarmes verso
Memphis (Anaea) polyxo
Memphis polyxo
Peru
w 60mm
m A1 £7
Memphis polyxo verso
Memphis (Anaea) xenocles
Westwood's corner spotted leafwing
Peru
w 50mm
m a1 £ 3
Underwing pattern can be very variable
Peru