| Croesus Eyemark (Semomesia croesus (Fabricius, 1777)) |
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Scientific name: Semomesia croesus (Fabricius, 1777) Common name: Croesus Eyemark French name: Semomesia croesus Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Riodinidae Subfamily: Riodininae Wingspan: 30-34 mm. Biotope: Primary tropical forest. Geographic area: Amazonian Basin: Colombia, Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. Flight time: All year round. Number of generations : Caterpillar: Host plant: |
Semomesia croesus shows a well marked eyespot, with three dots inside, in the discal area of the fore wing. There is an important sexual dimorphism. Males show a beautiful metallic blue colour. On an upper side view, the base of the fore wings is a uniform colour. The postmedial area shows a black stripe which is wider on the inner side. The submarginal area shows a more uniform black stripe, just slightly wider on the costal side. The wings end with a broad black margin. On an under side view the fore wings may show thin black stripes since their base. The hind wings are streaked with black starting from the postdiscal area on the upper side and more finely streaked with black since their base on the underside. Females are brown with white marks, in particular broad bands, and sometimes some blue sheen. There is a possible confusion with other species of the same genus like Semomesia capanea and with other species of the Mesosemia genus. To be completed … |
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I have shot this picture at Matoury, while walking along the Mirande footpath. I think I have identified the two possible genus but I cannot tell more based on my current knowledge. The difficult light conditions in the primary forest and my rather old photo equipment did not permit me to shoot correct pictures. Here is one reason to plan another stay in French Guiana in order to come back with better pictures of these small beautiful butterflies with their metallic colours. |
André Bon May 2014