''Doxocopa cyane'', the Mexican emperor or cyan emperor, is a species of

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

of the family Nymphalidae.

Subspecies

Subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

include: * ''Doxocopa cyane burmeisteri'' (Godman & Salvin, 1884) (Argentina) * ''Doxocopa cyane cyane'' (Latreille, 1813) (Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia) * ''Doxocopa cyane mexicana'' Bryk, 1953 (Mexico, Colombia) * ''Doxocopa cyane vespertina'' Lamas, 1999 (Peru)

Distribution

This species is present in

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

."''Doxocopa'' Hübner, [1819]"
at Markku Savela's ''Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms''. Retrieved July 3, 2017.

Habitat

These butterflies inhabit cloudforest at elevations between about above sea level.Learn about butterflies
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Description

''Doxocopa cyane'' has a wingspan of about .Jean-Claude Peti
Inventory of the Butterfly Species of Sangay National Park - Ecuador
/ref> The color of the wings varies by sex. Males show a brilliant electric-blue iridescence on the upperside of the wings, while the wings of the females lack this iridescence. Females have usually a brown ground color with wide longitudinal bands of orange and white on forewings and hindwings.

Biology

Larvae feed on '' Celtis spinosa''. Males are solitary and territorial. They usually visit wet muddy patches and feed on rotting fruits, dung or carrion. Females mainly inhabit the forest canopy.

References

External links

Butterflies of America

Butterflies and Moths
* Frederick D. Godman et al
Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera. Vol. I (1879-1901)
Apaturinae Butterflies described in 1813 Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Butterflies of North America Nymphalidae of South America {{Apaturinae-stub