''Adelotypa annulifera'' is a species of riodinid butterfly found in South America (Guyana, Bolivia, Peru). It was first described by Frederick DuCane Godman in 1903.

Ecology

In 2016, researchers Phil Torres and Aaron Pomerantz in the

Tambopata National Reserve Tambopata National Reserve ( es, Reserva Nacional Tambopata) is a Peruvian nature reserve located in the southeastern region of Madre de Dios. It was established on September 4, 2000, by decree of President Alberto Fujimori. The reserve protects se ...

in Peru discovered that the caterpillars of ''A. annulifera'' engaged in

myrmecophily Myrmecophily ( , ) is the term applied to positive interspecies associations between ants and a variety of other organisms, such as plants, other arthropods, and fungi. Myrmecophily refers to mutualistic associations with ants, though in its m ...

. They live on the shoots of bamboo species in the genus ''

Guadua ''Guadua'' is a Neotropical genus of thorny, clumping bamboo in the grass family, ranging from moderate to very large species. Physically, ''Guadua angustifolia'' is noted for being the largest Neotropical bamboo. The genus is similar to ''Bam ...

'', providing sugary secretions to ants in exchange for protection. Four ant species have been observed tending the caterpillars: '' Ectatomma tuberculatum'', '' Pheidole'' sp., '' Megalomyrmex balzani'', and '' Paraponera clavata''. Adult butterflies exhibited kleptoparasitism by taking fluids from nectaries also fed on by ants, without providing a reward to the ants.

References

Nymphidiini Butterflies described in 1903 Butterflies of South America Lepidoptera of Bolivia Lepidoptera of Guyana Lepidoptera of Peru Taxa named by Frederick DuCane Godman {{Riodinidae-stub