#Archaeoprepona

[drhoz]

Archaeoprepona meander megabates from Caranavi Bolivia, feb. 2019.

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Brush-Footed Butterfly Snack Time & Hungry Owl Caterpillars

Our time observing the Butterflies of Mexico comes to a close with a delight sight of many individuals coming in to land for a citrus-filled snack! In this Butterfly garden, snacks are placed to encourage photography and closer glimpses at these beautiful insects. Handling is discouraged of course, but I'd be willing to bet that these Butterflies wouldn't mind flying over if you were close enough and holding some fruit. Using the orange slices, you can get a sense of scale for these scale-winged insects, and all things considered they are quite large and if they were to open their wings, their wingspan would be impressive! At this snack station, there are (at least) 3 different species of Butterflies congregating and sipping with their proboscises. Though different in many ways, these Brush-Footed Butterflies have one beautiful thing in common: their drab/mottled colored wings conceal vibrant colors on their dorsal side, aiding their survivability via cryptic camouflage. See if you can identify which specie is which.

The most conspicuous of these 3 are the Giant Owl Butterflies (Caligo telamonius), so named because of their large eye-spots on their hindwing's underside. Their cryptic colors combined with their dusk flying allows them to fly around with low risk of bird attack. And if a bird does attack, the eye-spots make a handy decoy. The hypothesis that the eye-spots deter predators by resembling a predators' eyes has been called into question. It's dorsal side features white, blue and black wings.

My dear friend was also able to find some Giant Owl Caterpillars among the plants. With the horn-like structures on their faces, the lines along their body and their spiny protrusions, they remind me of dragons. The wrigglers here appear to be enjoying Musa plants (the leaves appear similar to those of banana trees, one of which my family has had before). The green individuals appear to be the further developed instar since the spines are more prominent and far larger.

The individuals with brown and white wings featuring many ring-patterned spots are actually the Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides), one of the most iconic and iridescent-winged Butterflies. A few individuals here actually showcase their blue dorsal side (see Pictures 2, 3 and 7). Amazingly, their scale color is not caused by pigmentation of the scale, but rather the scale's prismatic qualities (a phenomenon known as structural color) which are stacked, resulting in entering light wavelengths manifesting only the blue wavelength of light.

Finally, try and spot the One-Spotted Preponas (Archaeoprepona demophon). These were the hardest to identify since they blend in amongst their larger friends and their tan-colored wings would make them difficult to see in the wild. What made the difference for me was the curvature along a vein in the hindwing. In comparison to their conspicuous fruit-mates, they aren't so distracting. However, up close there's quite a bit to enjoy. Looking at pictures other photographers have taken, they have a pink proboscis and a stunning teal-blue and black pattern on their dorsal wings.

Pictures were taken on February 11, 2024 in Mexico with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

[rentedthought]

The more I work with butterflies, the more I fall in love with them. Some of them are very good at deception! The blue you see here is not actually blue, but a bunch of tiny microstructures that only reflect blue light, making it look blue without actually being blue. This guy here came all the way from Oaxaca, Mexico, but he’s not the only one. 🦋 Thank you, @visiongene for the butterflies and for making research more fun. posted on Instagram - http://bit.ly/2YS2uEn

[theplantgirl]

the food chain

A Silver King Shoemaker butterfly (Archaeoprepona) resting on a leaf.

Being an intern, you often get stuck with the more mundane or monotonous tasks. In many cases, you're at the bottom of the food chain, and working for the museum, there are many different departments and people above me.

The Butterfly Center operates as its own department, and in the month I've worked here, I've only personally seen interactions between the Center and two other departments: Building and Exhibits. Building often operates as maintenance, and they fix more complex problems that the Butterfly Center workers either can't or don't want to solve. Exhibits works on tasks such as signage or lighting throughout the museum.

The Rainforest Conservatory in the early morning just after I finished cleaning.

The Butterfly Center's team cares for the rainforest conservatory, two outdoor pollinator gardens, and three greenhouses. There are six people that make up the Center's team. In order to protect their privacy, I will use initials to discuss my coworkers. L.D. is the manager of the Butterfly Center. She oversaw the hiring of me and the other intern, and she keeps track of the financials, communication, and hours of the employees.

C.C. is the assistant to the manager. She also helps oversee the entomology hall, insect zoo, and outreach programs. K.N. is our Butterfly and Education Specialist. She is often the one who performs our Bugs on Wheels Programs across the state. She also helps care for the variety of insects held within the Butterfly Center. The entomology intern works closely with these individuals.

I work directly with the other three employees. T.L. is the Conservatory Horticulture Manager, and I work with her in the mornings to prepare the conservatory for the day. She rotates plants in and out of the conservatory, manages stock of fertilizers and other supplies, and performs general maintenance. S.H. is the Greenhouse Manager, and I often work with her in the afternoons. She oversees the three greenhouses and the plants sold within the museum's gift shop. Both T.L. and S.H. work together to care for the two outdoor pollinator gardens, though S.H. heads the planning and maintenance of the gardens.

A Coffee Tree (Coffea) in full bloom within the conservatory. The blooms smell like jasmine green tea.

Once a week I work with J.C., the Rearing Coordinator. He cares for the thousands of butterflies within the conservatory and two of the greenhouses. Inside the conservatory, we do not allow the butterflies to reproduce since caterpillars are more of a containment hazard than adult butterflies. In order to have a constant rotation of butterflies, J.C. oversees the reproduction of butterflies within two of the greenhouses. He ensures that these caterpillars and butterflies have a constant rotation of host and nectar plants. He works with C.C. and K.N. to purchase or trade with other butterfly centers for new butterflies. They search for new species and high-performing generations of the current species held within the conservatory.

Even though I am at the bottom of this very large and complex food chain, I have yet to feel that way. Everyone within my department and within the museum is extremely welcoming and encouraging. This organization is by far my favorite place I have ever worked, and I am already learning so much. I cannot wait to see how my professional skills develop throughout the remainder of my internship.

[dfroza]

Love points to metamorphosis.

[Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park]

These beautiful chrysalides belong to the Silver King Shoemaker, or Archaeoprepona demophon, butterfly. It's easy to see how they would blend right into a branch in the wild!

These are among the first chrysalides to arrive to Meijer Gardens for our Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition, which officially begins March 1 and runs through April 30. More information: https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/butterflies-are-blooming/

2.13.22 • Facebook

the heart turns into a chrysalis and is reborn into a new True nature.

some dreams work the same.

[nad-zeta]

Selfie Match up! (◕‿◕✿)

Hi hi, love! 😊❤Thank you so much for the request! Can I just say your eyes are so pretty omw! I actually forgot how much I enjoyed doing these selfie matchups lol so thanks for the request! ❤😆🔥I hope you enjoyed it, dear! @happythoughtfulstarfish​

I have to admit it was between Arthur and Napoleon for me, but after much deliberation, I finally decided on...

So I match you with.......... Napoleon 

The first time this boy sees you, he was in utter awe 

The first thing he noticed when he looked at you was, your piercing blue-green eyes

They reminded him of a bright sunny day on the beach

They were like ocean waves swirling with different hues of green beneath, ranging from a stormy night sky to a crystal clear shimmer.

In them, he could see the playfulness of a bright Archaeoprepona demophon butterfly flurrying and fluttering around a flower field on a brilliantly sunny summers day

All he could think at this point was that summer had arrived 

And after a flash of a small shy smile, his heart was already melting into a puddle

The former emperor of France was definitely in trouble

He diverted his gaze so he could collect himself, only to be distracted by your golden brown hair flowing in the wind

The way the golden rays of bright sunshine reflected off your silky strands and the way your beautiful locks danced in the summer breeze had Napoleon completely enchanted

Your face radiated a playful energetic spirit hiding beneath the lines of a shy reserved smile

He was determined to get to know you, his mind was going 100 miles per hour, as he had already envisioned his life with you by his side

He could easily see it in his minds eyes 

The two of you walking hand and hand in a beautiful flower field on a bright summers day all while, chatting and laughing away. 

Heck he could even see the two of you spending quiet evenings together. He would hold you tight resting his head on your shoulder all while insisting you play and sing him a song.

Other potential matches............. Arthur 

I hope you enjoyed it dear, and I hope you have the best day! 🌻❤

[hot-chicken-sandwich-69]

Relaxing chamber

Archaeoprepona amphimachus (left)

Argema mittrei (right)

[the-sloth-woman]

Pssttt, Slothy~ Get me in with the fae! Im down for disappearing into a magical realm!

Oof, I can try, but you gotta pay homage to the fae queen.  

( Archaeoprepona demophon)

She only appears once every few months to grant access to those who show her favor.  Only those she deems absolutely worthy are allowed into her domain.  Unless of course you catch her when her form is mixed with that of her male lover’s, then entrance is pretty much guaranteed.  But this form appears even less often than the queen does

(bilateral gendermorph, very rare.  I can’t remember which species it was off the top of my head)

[eastsouthwestnorth]

Archaeoprepona demophon e companhia by LibertyTurtera , Editor's Choice 500px

[ericangelramos]

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An Antillean manatee rises from its grass breakfast to show us its algae-covered hairs and skin. It squeaks with a mouthful as it eyed our snorkeling scientists. To everyone boating near Placencia, go slow and remember your manatee neighbors are all over! #placencia #manatee #belize #protectourmanatees #conservation #expeditionecho #animals #marinemammals #marinemammalsofinstagram #marinemammalsofbelize #marineconservation #animalkingdom #sirenia @teresaandben @archaeoprepona (at Placencia, Belize, Central America)

[drhoz]

Archaeoprepona demophoon andicola , Fruhstorfer 1904, from Rio Broncini, Caranavi Bolivia 24. Feb. 2022. 240 fps.

[drhoz]

#1974 - Two-spotted Prepona - Archaeoprepona demophoon

AKA Hübner's shoemaker and silver king shoemaker 

The species name is a fabulous taxonomic joke - the One-spotted Prepona is Archaeoprepona demophon. This may have been accidental - Hübner’s description of demophoon was made 56 years after Linnaeus’ description of demophon.  To complicate matters further both species often occur together, and on the upperside are nearly identical!

Most species in the genus were described before Hans Fruhstorfer coined the genus in 1916, and were originally in other genera. Archaeoprepona demophon, for example, was first described as Papilio demophon by Carl Linnaeus. Even after Fruhstorfer’s paper, species have commonly been included in Prepona instead.

The upper side of the wings of most Archaeoprepona and Prepona are very similar - dark brown with dazzling turquoise or blue bands - and it’s the underside of the wings that are most important for ID. 

Several subspecies are found from Mexico to Paraguay, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.  The eggs are spherical, white, and laid singly on Persea, Nectandra or Ocotea ( Lauraceae ). The chrysalis is bluish green with irregular white spots resembling lichen. Adults are agile with  powerful flight, and are only active in hot sunny conditions. They are known to live for up to 8 weeks, with males perching on tree trunks or  foliage, and dogfighting rival males above the treetops. Both sexes commonly feed at sap runs, rotting fruit, and less often at urine, dung or carrion, oblivious of any human disturbance.

[ericangelramos]

A pantropical spotted dolphin leaps from the wave-rippled Caribbean waters of Belize. Its mouth awash with dark black spots helps to distinguish it from the dozens of its kind bowriding with the catamaran. Aboard our most recent expedition, we built on our years of work studying marine mammals in Belize by venturing across the nation to collect crucial information on these species. Their lives are revealed to us slowly and with no small effort, unraveling the mysteries of their movements and behavior is our reward. #dolphin #marinemammals #marineconservation #marinemammalresearch #marinelife #animal #animallover #stenella #belize #expedition #expeditionecho #caribbean #toloveandprotectbelize #conservation #science @teresaandben @archaeoprepona @cbox11 @benmirin @squtch (at Belize)

[ericangelramos]

We're so grateful for all of the contributions to our efforts to study and protect marine mammals in Belize! Over $2000! If you haven't had a chance to check out our campaign, please do and share! If you can afford to make a contribution to our work, please do and share. Every little bit counts as we fund our journey through deep water habitats of Belize! #indiegogo #marinemammalsofbelize #marinelife #ocean #animal #animallover #conservation #conservationscience #science #belize #marinemammals @oceanic.society @natalycas @archaeoprepona (at Belize City, Belize)