Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1
Smyrna blomfildia
This record describes Smyrna blomfildia (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The underside of the hindwing has a series of eyespots near the outer edge and a psychedelic-looking arrangement of lines and shapes in white and brown. Two small triangular tails project off the rear outside corner. The wings are typically kept very tightly folded, and the species flights abruptly and rarely, so the forewing and the upperside are rarely seen in live specimens. Upperwing pattern is sexually dimorphic. First U.S. Record: Weslaco, Hidalgo Co., Texas - 1978
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Nymphalini
- Genus
- Smyrna (Beauties)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forest
Geographic Range
se AZ, s. TX (as strays) to Peru - Map (MPG, BOA)
Seasonal Activity
Year-round in the tropics; in the US, primarily November through January.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on woody members of the nettle family Urticaceae, particularly the genus Urera. Adults found mainly at rotting fruit.
Life History
Adults aestivate in high mountains during the dry season. There are apparently some interesting relationships between the host plant Urera, the [i]S. blomfildia caterpillars, and ants, with the plant producing secretions that attract ants, the ants protecting the plant from caterpillar herbivory, and the caterpillars coming up with defense mechanisms in response to the ants.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Smyrna blomfildia (Fabricius, 1781)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Smyrna blomfildia. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1
What is Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1?
Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 (Smyrna blomfildia) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1?
The underside of the hindwing has a series of eyespots near the outer edge and a psychedelic-looking arrangement of lines and shapes in white and brown. Two small triangular tails project off the rear outside corner. The wings are typically kept very tightly folded, and the species flights abruptly and rarely, so the forewing and the upperside are rarely seen in live specimens. Upperwing pattern is sexually dimorphic.
Where is Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest |
| Range | se AZ, s. TX (as strays) to Peru - Map (MPG, BOA) |
What does Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 eat?
The diet of the Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 includes Caterpillars feed on woody members of the nettle family Urticaceae, particularly the genus Urera. Adults found mainly at rotting fruit..
When is Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1 active?
Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1: seasonal activity - Year-round in the tropics; in the US, primarily November through January..
What is the life cycle of a Blomfild's Beauty - Hodges#4547.1?
Adults aestivate in high mountains during the dry season. There are apparently some interesting relationships between the host plant Urera, the [i]S. blomfildia caterpillars, and ants, with the plant producing secretions that attract ants, the ants protecting the plant from caterpillar herbivory, and the caterpillars coming up with defense mechanisms in response to the ants.